1YTJV93 


University  of  California  •  Berkeley 


THE   WESTERN  BLUE   BOOK 

Witt  lie  out  in  October.     Price,  $1.5O. 


CAMPAIGNS 


OF 


H 


H 


IN  THE  NORTH-WEST, 


AND  THE 


FINAL  SURRENDER 


OF 


SITTING     BULL 


BY 


JUDSON  ELLIOTT  WALKER. 


NEW  TOEK: 

JENKINS    &    THOMAS,     PRINTERS, 
8  SPEUCE  STREET. 

1881. 


JPKICE,    75    CEiXTS, 


Y    tit- 


THEOLOGICAL   SEN 


CAMPAIGNS 


OF 


H 


H 


IN  THE  NORTH-WEST, 


AND  THE 


FINAL  SURRENDER 


OF 


:     T  NG-  BULL 


BY 


JUDSON   ELLIOTT  WALKER. 


ALL,   BIGHTS    KESEBVED. 


THEOLOGICA 


•:•       NEW  YORK: 
'JENKINS    &     THOMAS,     PRINTERS, 

8  SPBUCE  STREET. 

1881. 


COPYRIGHT    SECURED. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress  in  the  year  1881, 

BY    J  U  D  S  O  N     ELLIOTT     W  A  L  K  E  II , 
In  the  Office  of  the  Librarian  of  Congress,  at  Washington,  D.  C. 


AIX  RIGHTS  RESERVED. 


39112 


TO 


THE  AMERICAN  PEOPLE 


AND   ESPECIALLY  TO 


I  DEDICATE  THIS  WORK. 


CONTENTS. 


INTROD  UCTION. , 7 

SECTION  I.  —  GENERAL  VAN  COUVNOE 9 

SECTION  II.— OUSTER'S  LAST  BATTLE  AGAINST  SITTING  BULL..  28 

APPENDIX  TO  THE  PRECEDING  SECTION 55 

SECTION  III.— SURRENDER  OF  CROW  KING 59 

SECTION  IV. —S  URRENDER  OF  SITTING  B  ULL 66 

SECTION  V.—CUSTERS  LAST  RALLY 1H 

RETROSPECTIVE. ..  125 


ILLUSTRATIONS. 


PORTRAIT  OF  THE  AUTHOR  (FRONTISPIECE) 2 

GENERAL  CUSTER 28 

CROW  KING,   CHIEF  WARRIOR   UNDER  SITTING  B  ULL 59 

CHIEF  GAUL,   THE  GREAT  RAIDER  OF  THE  SIOUX  NATION. . .    62 

SITTING  BULL,  CHIEF  WARRIOR  OF  THE  SIOUX  NATION. 66 

LOUIS,  OLDEST  SON  OF  SITTING  B  ULL 104 

RAIN-IN-  THE-FACE,   THE  MURDERER  OF  GENL.  CUSTER 122 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  object  of  this  first  venture  into  authorship  on  the  part  of  one 
-who,  until  recently,  engaged  in  the  engrossing  duties  of  active  business 
life — has  had  but  little  leisure  for  literary  pursuits — will  be  readily 
apparent  to  the  reader  on  a  perusal  of  its  pages.  It  purports  to  be  a 
faithful  portrayal  of  "Western  life,  as  experienced  by  the  old  settlers  at 
the  isolated  posts  and  military  stations  on  the  extreme  frontier,  to- 
gether with  a  clear  representation  of  facts  concerning  the  treatment  of 
the  Indians  of  the  plains,  by  the  Military  and  Interior  Departments  of 
the  Government. 

The  author,  heretofore  a  stranger  to  the  reading  public,  deems  it  not 
amiss  to  introduce  himself  to  his  readers  by  stating  that,  when  the 
war  of  the  Kebellion  broke  out,  in  1861,  he  was  a  conductor  on  the 
Missouri  Pacific  Eailroad,  Laving  followed  that  profession  since  he 
was  twenty-one  years  of  age. 

In  1862,  just  after  the  siege  of  Corinth,  a  request  was  made  from  the 
Army  of  the- Tennessee  for  experienced  men  and  officers  to  take  imme- 
diate charge  of  the  immense  transportation.  The  writer  proceeded  to 
Corinth,  Miss.,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  at  Jackson,  Tenn.,  the 
lamented  Major-General  James  B.  McPherson  being  his  immediate 
superior  officer  up  to  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  when,  in  1863,  just  be- 
fore the  surrender  of  that  almost  impregnable  city,  he  was  captured 
by  the  regular  Confederate  forces,  under  E.  Kirby  Smith,  whose  head- 
quarters were  at  Shreveport,  La.  It  was  soon  noised  about  his 
quarters  that  the  prisoner  had  taken  a  prominent  part  in  railroad 
management,  and  the  transportation  connected  with  the  army  under 
Grant,  McPherson  and  Sherman,  and  it  was  decided  to  banish  him  so 
far  out  of  the  way  that  he  would  not  be  able  to  render  any  further 
service  to  the  Union  cause  during  the  war.  His  sentence  was  banish- 
ment into  Old  Mexico,  not  to  retura  during  the  war,  xmder  penalty  of 
death.  The  sentence,  however,  was  not  read  to  the  writer  until  he, 
with  his  guard,  had  reached  the  banks  of  the  Rio  Grande,  at  old  Fort 
Duncan,  opposite  Predas  Nadres,  in  Old  Mexico.  He  was  then  thrown 
across  the  river  among  the  Greasers,  and  found  himself  the  only  man 
in  that  whole  section  of  country  who  could  speak  the  American 
language. 


' 


8 

To  reach,  home  again — ever  the  first  thought  of  the  exile — two  routes 
were  available,  and  to  decide  which  of  them  was  the  less  dangerous, 
was  an  intensely  interesting  question.  The  wild  Apache  Indians  at 
that  time  were  marauding  through  that  portion  of  Old  Mexico,  and 
rendered  equally  hazardous  the  northern  route  through  New  Mexico, 
to  the  seaboard,  or  the  southeasterly  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico  via  Mon- 
terey and  Matamoras.  He,  at  length,  decided  to  take  the  latter,  the 
distance  being  about  four  hundred  miles  to  Monterey,  and  at  once  set 
out  on  foot  on  his  forlorn  trip,  sustained  and  upheld  by  the  faint 
glimmer  of  a  hope  that  his  weary  steps,  in  time,  would  reach  a  friendly 
haven,  from  whence  he  might  communicate  with  his  far-off  northern 
home. 

Winding  his  solitary  way  through  the  unbroken  chain  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains,  toward  the  gates  of  Monterey,  the  vision  of  this  home, 
with  the  loving  wife  and  little  daughter  who  there  awaited  him,  shone 
clear  and  resplendent  through  the  darkness  of  his  gloomy  situation, 
and  saved  him  from  despair.  Onward  he  struggled,  through  the 
dreary  mountain  fastnesses,  whose  sombre  landscape  views  were  un- 
relieved save  by  here  and  there  a  lone  palmetto  tree,  or  the  rude  head- 
board of  a  solitary  grave,  enclosing  the  mortal  remains  of  some  white 
wanderer,  who  had  been  slain  by  the  wild  Apache  Indians,  or  assassin- 
ated by  the  merciless  Mexican  banditti.  Day  by  day  he  neared  the 
wished-for  haven,  and  at  length  discerned  the  welcome  gates  of  Mon- 
terey. Arrived  at  this  city,  he  sought  the  American  Consul,  who  sent 
him  to  Matamoras,  and  from  thence,  by  man-of-war,  to  New  Orleans, 
where  General  Banks  took  charge  of  him  and  sent  him  up  the  river 
to  Vicksburg. 

Suffice  it,  for  the  purposes  of  this  brief  history,  to  say  that  in  1867 
the  author  proceeded  to  Kansas  and  engaged  in  a  general  mercantile 
business,  a  portion  of  the  time  being  engaged  in  trade  with  the  wild 
Kiowa  and  Comanche  tribes  of  Indians.  From  that  time,  until  re- 
cently, he  has  been  engaged  on  the  extreme  frontier,  in  trading  with 
army  people,  immigrants,  settlers  and  Indians. 

His  opportunities  for  observation  among  these  classes  of  people  have 
been  unlimited,  and  the  thought  long  ago  impressed  itself  upon  his 
mind,  that  a  work  of  the  present  nature,  presenting  truthful  sketches 
of  Western  life  and  character,  would  possess  intrinsic  value  in  itself, 
and  be  a  mine  of  information  to  the  large  body  of  people  in  our  country, 
who  have  not  yet  beheld  that  social  wonderland  of  America — the  great 
West. 

J.  E.  W. 


SECTION  I. 
GEKEKAL  VAN  COUVNOR 

GENERAL  VAN  COUVNOB  AND  A  PEACE  COMMISSIONER  SUBJU- 
GATING THE  WILD  KIOWAS  AND  COMANCHES  NEAR  THE 
WICHITA  MOUNTAINS. 


CHAPTER  I. 

An  Indian  Agency. — Mr.  Jonathan  Broadbrim  assumes  the  du- 
ties as  Indian  Agent,  and  introduces  himself  to  the  leading  war 
chiefs. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  of  the  oft-recurring  farces 
that  characterize  the  dealings  of  the  government  with  the 
untutored  savages,  is  the  so-called  Peace  Commission.  As 
a  faithful  picture  of  the  frequent  "  pow-wow,"  or  peace  cere- 
mony— "  Big  Talkee"  as  the  Indians  style  it  in  their  graphic 
language — is  adduced  the  following  truthful  colloquy,  that 
occurred  at  the  Washita  River  Indian  Agency,  between  Jon- 
athan Broadbrim,  Agent  of  the  Comanches  and  Kiowas,  on 
the  part  of  the  Government,  and  Satanta,  Lone  Wolf,  and 
Kickingbird,  leading  chiefs  of  the  Kiowa  tribes.  The  con- 
versation, as  carried  on  through  an  interpreter,  is  given 
almost  verbatim,  and  furnishes  a  fair  illustration  of  the  pe- 
culiar mode  of  dealing  with  the  Indians,  adopted  by  the 
Government,  together  with  the  usual  result  of  such  treat- 
ment : 

A  COLLOQUY  AT  A  KIOWA  AGENCY. 

Agent.  Friends,  I  am  here  to-day  to  hear  your  requests, 
to  listen  to  your  complaints,  and  to  devise  means  for  your 
welfare. 

Satanta.  How ;  how  ;  big  white  chief,  how  ?  Heap-o'- 
talkee  to-day.  Heap-o'-talkee  and  no  good.  Heap-o'-talkee 


10 


SUBJUGATING 


me  to-day.    White  folks  talkee  heap  and  no  good.    Me  sava, 
me  heap-o'-sava,  and  no  good. 

Agent.  Well,  Satanta,  I  have  been  sent  here  by  the 
United  States  Government,  to  see  if  anything  can  be  done 
for  you  and  your  tribes  in  the  way  of  having  all  of  you  set- 
tle on  a  reservation  of  your  own,  such  as  may  be  allotted 
to  you  by  our  Government.  We  would  like  to  have  you 
settle  down  with  your  people,  and  take  hold  of  farming  and 
raising  stock ;  at  the  same  time  have  your  children  go  to 
school. 

Satanta.  How  much  land  and  how  many  cattle  will  you 
give  us,  and  not  much  talkee  about  it  ? 

Agent.  I  am  instructed  to  say  that  we  will  build  good 
school-houses,  and  also  as  many  houses  as  may  be  needed 
for  all  of  your  families  to  live  in.  We  will  set  aside  a  quan- 
tity of  land  for  your  people  to  live  on,  and  will  furnish 
farming  tools,  and  all  the  corn  and  potatoes  they  may  want 
to  plant,  and  will  send  them  a  good  farmer  to  show  them 
how. 

Satanta.  Where  is  the  land  you  talkee  so  much  about  ? 
We  want  to  know  where  it  is  ? 

Agent.  We  will  select  the  farms  for  your  tribes  up  and 
down  this  valley,  where  you  will  have  plenty  of  water 
and  wood,  and  most,  an  excellent  place  to  shelter  your  stock 
in  the  winter. 

Satanta.  How  is  it  that  you  white  folks  own  this  land  ? 
We  have  always  lived  here  and  made  our  hunting-grounds 
up  and  down  the  Washita,  and  no  one  ever  disturbed  us 
until  you  pale-faces  came  here  with  your  soldiers.  The 
land  is  all  ours,  and  always  has  b^en. 

Agent.  We  claim  the  lands  all  around  here  by  our  pur- 
chase ;  but  we  will  set  aside  as  much  as  you  want  for  your 
tribes.  I  would  like  to  have  you  and  your  people  talk  the 
matter  over  among  yourselves,  and  I  earnestly  hope  we  can 
make  some  arrangement  so  that  the  result  will  be  greatly  to 
your  interest  and  improve  the  future  welfare  of  your  peo- 
ple, and  save  a  great  deal  of  trouble  and  expense  to  our 
Government,  as  well  as  for  yourselves.  I  would  like  to  hear 
your  views,  and  want  to  hear  your  chiefs  and  warriors  talk. 


THE    HOSTILES.  11 

Satanta.  I  heard  the  great  father  at  "Washington  wanted 
me  to  come  here  and  have  a  big  talkee  with  his  agent.  You 
pale-faces  say  you  always  want  peace.  You  send  your  sol- 
diers here  to  fight  and  make  peace.  My  brave  warriors 
fight,  and  your  soldiers  fight ;  and  I  tell  you  one  thing  now, 
that  as  long  as  you  send  your  soldiers  here  to  fight,  you 
may  expect  my  braves  to  fight  back  again.  My  braves  are 
all  young  men,  and  will  keep  a-fighting  the  pale-faces  until 
they  keep  away  from  our  hunting-grounds. 

Agent.  But,  Satanta,  we  propose  to  allow  your  people  to 
hunt  all  they  want  to.  We  don't  want  to  disturb  your 
hunting-grounds. 

Satanta.  Only. a  little  while  ago — may-be-so-four-years, 
may-be-so-six-years — we  lived  on  the  plains  in  Kansas,  and 
my  people  were  all  well-to-do-and-a-heap-o'-good-all-the- 
time.  We  had  a  heap-o'-buffalo-and-antelope  to  hunt  and 
kill,  and  make-a-heap-o'-meat  for  our  squaws  and  papooses. 
We  had  a-heap-o'-good  times.  Heap-o'-good-pale-faced-men 
come  out  to  us  and  made  heap-o'-good-agents. 

Agent.  We  think  we  send  you  good  msn  for  your  agents 
now.  What  is  the  matter  with  them  ? 

Satanta.  In  those  good  old  days  the  pale-faced  agents 
were  good.  Our  goods  and  clothing  were  brought  to  us 
erery  spring  and  fall  on  a-heap-big-wagons-all-the-time- 
with-heap-big-horses.  We  had  a-heap-o'- buffalo-robes  for 
the  swap-chief,  and  our  squaws  and  papooses  had  plenty 
of  blankets,  calico,  sugar,  and  coffee.  All  was  heap  good. 
They  all  the  time  had  a-heap-o'-good  clothes  to  wear,  and-a- 
heap-o'-good  things  to  eat.  My  braves,  squaws  and  papooses 
heap-o'-good  all  the  time.  Young  men  hunt  buffalo,  and 
squaws  make-a-heap-good-buffalo-robes,  and-make-a-heap- 
o' -good-swap. 

Agent.  I  see  no  reason  why  you  cannot  do  the  same  now. 
We  try  to  send  good  men  for  agents,  and  appoint  a  good 
class  of  teachers  for  you.  If  there  is  anything  wrong  I 
want  to  know  it,  and  will  try  to  make  it  right. 

Satanta.  May-be-so-two-years,  may-be-so-four-years-ago, 
the  white  man  has  cared  nothing  about  the  treaties  he  has 
signed  with  us.  The  pale-faces  have  acted  as  if  they  never 


12  SUBJUGATING 

had  signed  any  treaty  at  all.  Our  goods  and  clothing,  that 
ought  to  have  been  here  last  October,  are  not  here  yet,  and 
it  is  now  in  the  moon  of-two-moons  (February). 

Agent.  Your  annuity  goods  are  now  on  the  way,  and,  I 
think,  will  be  here  in  a  very  few  days. 

Satanta.  It  was  just  the  same  slow  way  last  year  and  the 
year  before  ;  our  squaws  and  papooses  would  suffer  to-day, 
only  my  young  braves  are  able  to  find  a  few  buffalo,  which 
gives  them  meat  to  keep  them  from  being  hungry,  and  robes 
to  cover  their  naked  bodies.  The  pale-faces  have  advanced 
on  the  red-man,  and  driven  the  buffalo  and  antelope  away, 
so  that  our  young  men  can  hardly  find  enough  meat  to  feed 
our  squaws  and  papooses. 

Agent.  I  think  there  is  plenty  of  pork,  bacon,  and  corned 
beef  in  the  storehouse.  It  really  seems  to  me  there  is  no 
need  of  your  people  going  hungry. 

Satanta.  No  good ;  no  good ;  no  like  'em.  Pale-face-eat- 
'em-a-heap — red-man-no-eat-'em.  No  good.  Red-man  and 
squaws  like  heap-o'-buffalo-and-antelope-full-o' -blood.  The 
white  man  has  all  the  time  been  talkee-peace-peace-heap-o'- 
talkee-heap-o'-talkee-and-no-peace.  I  tell  you  now  there 
will  be  no  peace  until  the  white  man  does  as  he  agrees,  and 
when  he  signs  a  treaty  with  our  tribes  he  must  make  his 
word  good. 

Agent.  I  think  there  will  be  no  trouble  about  that.  I 
think  we  can  make  a  treaty  that  will  be  satisfactory  to  all 
parties. 

Satanta.  We  have  been  driven  four  hundred  miles  from 
our  hunting-grounds  in  Kansas  and  we  have  no  peace  yet. 
It  looks  to  me  as  if  you  might  go  up  and  help  that  wagon 
train  along  that  has  been  on  the  road  all  winter,  trying  to 
get  here.  You  smart  pale-faced  men  know  a-heap-better  to 
put  oxen  on  wagons  in  the  winter  when  such-a-big-snow  on 
the  ground.  Why  not  put  mules  and  horses  on  the  wagons 
and  get  here  sometime  before  the  grass  grows  in  the  spring  ? 
Bad  men.  No  good.  Pale-face-man-no-caree.  No  good. 
Bad-medicine-bad-medicine-heap-o'-bad. 

Agent.  I  hope  you  know,  Satanta,  that  we  all  have  more 
or  less  trouble  in  moving  over  the  plains  in  the  winter,  and 
when  there  is  snow  on  the  ground. 


THE    HOSTILES.  13 

Satanta.  I  have  had  hard  work  to  keep  my  young  men 
from  going  out  to  meet  those  wagons  and  killing  the  oxen 
for  beef,  and  taking  the  goods  out  of  the  wagons  and  giving 
them  to  the  squaws  and  papooses,  and  then  burn  the  wagons 
to  make  a  hot  fire  and  make  hot  coffee  and  hot  tea  and  roast 
the  oxen  for  a  heap-o'-good-supper  for  Kiowas. 

Agent.  Then  we  would  have  to  send  our  soldiers  out  after 
you.  That  kind  of  conduct  is  just  what  makes  our  soldiers 
fight  you. 

Satanta.  Then  my  braves  will  fight  back  again.  My  braves 
were  made  to  fight  your  soldiers,  and  before  we  make  any 
more  treaties  with  you  pale-faces,  you  must  have  your 
wagon  men  bring  our  goods  here  in  better  time,  and  you 
must  keep  the  old  treaties  good.  The  old  treaties  are  good 
enough  for  the  red-man  and  the  squaws  and  papooses.  All 
we  want  is  you  pale-faces  to  keep  them  good  and  have  less 
talkee  about  it,  and  you  must  stop  your  young  men  from 
killing  our  buffalo  and  antelope  for  fun. 

Agent.  I  will  talk  this  matter  over  with  my  people  and  see 
what  can  be  done.  I  think  myself  they  ought  to  stop  killing 
the  buffalo  for  fun.  I  think  you  are  justified  in  that  com- 
plaint, and  I  will  give  it  my  attention. 

Satanta.  You  have  driven  us  from  our  homes  and  hunting- 
grounds  in  Kansas,  you  may  drive  us  from  here  away  across 
the  staked  plains  into  old  Mexico  ;  your  soldiers  may  fight 
my  braves  and  your  big  general  may  put  irons  all  over  me 
again,  but  the  big  red  chiefs  will  always  talkee,  heap-o'- 
talkee,  and  our  brave  warriors  will  always  fight,  until  the 
pale-faces  do  as  they  agree  when  they  sign  a  treaty  with  us. 

Agent.  I  will  confess  that  I  am  very  sorry  such  delays 
have  occurred  in  shipping  your  supplies  in  here,  and  I  am 
satisfied  it  has  been  quite  a  serious  annoyance  to  you  and 
your  people,  as  well  as  to  ourselves,  and  I  will  make  it  my 
business  to  report  these  delays  to  the  proper  parties,  and 
will  in  the  future  have  your  supplies  shipped  in  better 
time.  I  will  further  state  that  we  will  hereafter  send  men 
who  will  see  that  your  wants  are  more  promptly  and  prop- 
erly cared  for.  We  think  the  delay  has  been  on  account  of 
the  bad  weather  and  the  inactivity  of  the  freighters,  and  the 


14  SUBJUGATING 

blame  should  by  no  means  be  placed  upon  the  agent.  We 
are  ready  and  willing  to  do  anything  that  is  consistent  and 
just  to  make  good  to  you  and  your  people  any  damages  that 
have  occurred.  I  would  like  to  have  you  talk  with  your 
young  men  about  farming  and  raising  cattle  and  sheep,  and 
to-morrow  I  will  meet  you  here  with  two  more  white  broth- 
ers, and  we  will  have  another  good  talk. 

Satanta.  It  is  no  use  to  bring  any  more  pale-faces  here 
to  talk.  What  we  want  is  white  men  to  do  as  they  agree. 
My  brave  warriors  will  fight  and  you  may  send  your  dog 
soldiers  here  to  fight  them,  and  your  big  general  can  put 
irons  all  over  my  body  again,,  and  then  he  can  go  back  and 
tell  all  the  pale-faces  you  have  got  that  the  red-man  of  the 
plains  will  never,  never  surrender,  but  will  always  fight  un- 
til the  great  father  at  Washington  makes  his  pale-faces  do 
as  they  agree.  I  am  the  big  chief  of  the  Kiowa  tribes,  but 
I  am  only  one  man,  and  I  want  my  young  chiefs  and  war- 
riors to  say  something.  Lone  Wolf  and  Kickingbird  are  the 
chief  warriors  in  the  Kiowa  tribes,  and  I  want  them  to  make 
their  own  talk.  They  can  talkee  all  they  please. 

Lone  Wolf.  I  have  but  little  to  say.  I  am  a  poor  red-man, 
with  nothing  but  my  squaw  and  papoose  and  my  three 
ponies.  The  pale-faced  men  have-a-big-heap-of-everything. 
The  red-man  can  never  learn  as  much  as  the  white  knows. 
I  would  like  to  have  our  people  settle  down  here  where  the 
water  runs  clear  and  the  timber  grows  tall.  I  think  our 
women  would  raise  corn  and  potatoes  and  we  would  have 
our  children  go  to  school. 

Agent.  That  is  just  what  we  want  to  have  them  do,  and  we 
will  do  all  we  can  to  assist  them. 

Lone  Wolf.  If  your  white  people  will  do  what  is  right  and 
have  good  hearts  for  us,  I  think  our  tribes  will  do  well  for 
you.  I  have  been  on  the  war-path  for  thirty  years  and  am 
tired  of  it.  The  white  people  have  got  more  soldiers  than 
we  have,  and  I  know  it.  We  must  give  up  the  war-path 
sooner  or  later,  but  we  must  have  good  treatment  and  the 
pale-faces  must  stay  away  from  our  hunting-grounds  and 
let  our  buffalo  and  antelope  grow  as  they  ahvays  did. 

Agent.  If  your  people  will  settle  on  a  reservation  they 
will  have  plenty  of  cattle  and  will  not  need  any  buffalo. 


THE   HOSTELES.  15 

Lone  Wolf.  The  buffalo  and  antelope  were  put  on  the 
grass  for  the  red-man,  and  we  must  have  them.  If  the  great 
father  at  Washington  will  keep  his  pale-face  soldiers  away 
from  us,  I  will  try  and  have  our  people  settle  on  farms  and 
raise  corn,  potatoes,  oxen  and  sheep  and  a  heap-o'-cows.  I 
would  like  to  hear  what  Kickingbird  has  to  say.  He  is  a 
brave  young  warrior  and-a-heap-good-young-chief.  He  is  a 
heap-big-fighter  with  the  pale-faces  when  they  come  for  our 
buffalo  and  antelope. 

Agent.  We  would  all  like  to  hear  from  you,  Kickingbird. 
What  have  you  to  say  ?  I  think  you  ought  to  have  a  good 
influence  with  your  people. 

Kickingbird.  I  am  a  brave  young  chief  in  the  Kiowa  tribes. 
I  have  nothing  but  my  squaw  and  papoose  and  three  ponies. 
I  want  to  live  with  my  people  and  look  at  them  and  see  them 
do  well.  We  have  been  fought  by  your  big  generals  a  heap- 
o'-times  and  are  not  dead  yet,  and  we  don't  want  to  fight  any 
more.  We  want  the  white  soldiers  to  stay  away  from  us, 
and  we  will  take  care  of  ourselves.  I  want  to  go  to  Wash- 
ington and  have  a  big  talkee-a-heap-big-a-talkee  with  the 
great  father.  I  want  him  to  give  me  some  cattle  and  sheep. 
I  want  to  raise  oxen,  cows,  and  hogs  and  sheep,  and  hire 
our  young  men  to  make  corn  and  potatoes. 

Agent.  That  is  just  what  we  want  to  have  you  do,  Kick- 
ingbird, and  we  will  do  all  we  can  to  help  you  along.  I 
think  you  would  make  a  good  farmer. 

Kickingbird.  I  think  I  can  make  a  heap  good  farmer.  My 
squaw  can  live  like  a  white  woman,  and  my  papoose  must 
go  to  school  and  learn  to  read  and  write  and  come  home  and 
learn  the  other  children,  like  the  white  folks  do.  But  we  are 
never  going  to  do  all  this  while  your  pale-faces  stay  around 
us  and  kill  our  buffalo  for  fun.  They  must  stay  away  and 
let  our  braves  alone  and  stop  killing  the  buffalo  and  ante- 
lope, and  then  we  will  believe  the  white  man  will  do  what 
is  right  and  the  Kiowas  will  all  be  good  people. 

Agent.  I  will  do  the  best  I  can  to  have  you  go  to  Wash- 
ington, where  you  can  talk  with  the  great  father.  I  will  do 
all  I  can  to  help  you  get  cattle  and  sheep  and  be  a  good 
farmer.  We  will  build  you  good  houses  for  your  people  to 


16  SUBJUGATING 

live  in,  and  school-houses  for  your  children,  and  send  you  a 
good  teacher.  Our  soldiers  will  not  disturb  you  as  long  as 
you  keep  your  young  men  at  home  and  are  a  good  law- 
abiding  people. 

Kickingbird.  All  is  good.  Heap  good.  Heap-o'-good- 
talkee.  You-pale-face-talkee-a-heap-o'-good.  All-time-heap- 
good.  May-be-so-mee-yan-na-me-come-and-a-heap-o'-talkee- 
more-a-heap-o'-good.  Good-bye.  Good-bye. 

[All  shake  hands. 


CHAPTEE  II. 
GENEEAL  VAN  COUVNOB. 

Called  upon  to  assist. — An  unexpected  drama. 

Quite  different  was  the  scene  enacted  on  the  following  day 
at  the  military  post  in  the  vicinity.  While  Satanta  and 
his  associate  chiefs  were  engaged  in  "  peace  talk  "  with  the 
unsuspecting  agent,  the  wily  warriors  of  the  tribe  had  felt 
it  a  befitting  occasion  to  steal  forth  on  a  raiding  expedition, 
in  which  they  securely  bagged  the  mules  of  the  post  quar- 
termaster's department.  At  the  same  time  news  was  re- 
ceived at  the  post  that  the  same  warriors,  in  a  raid  into 
Texas,  had  killed  a  worthy  settler,  and  carried  off  his  wife 
and  children  as  prisoners,  as  is  the  custom  of  the  Kiowas, 
expecting  a  liberal  ransom  for  their  surrender.  The  scene 
opens  with  the  sentinels  of  the  post,  who  proclaim  the 
usual  hourly  "All's  well."  Agent  Broadbrim,  on  hearing  of 
the  occurrence,  repairs  in  haste  to  the  military  headquarters 
in  the  interests  of  peace. 

The  Indian  attack,  as  is  usual  with  them,  was  made  at 
daybreak,  as  the  herd  was  being  driven  out  to  grass.  The 
herder,  Squills,  rushes  to  the  post  nearest  the  carrol,  to  give 
the  alarm.  The  sentry  is  found  asleep  at  his  post,  but 
awakes  to  the  emergency  of  the  case,  in  time  to  arouse  the 
corporal  of  the  relief  guard. 

Post  No.  1,  Sentinel.  Twelve  o'clock,  and  all  is  well.      Post 

:NO.  i. 


THE   HOST1LES.  17 

Post  No.  2.  Twelve  o'clock,  and  all  is  well.     Post  No.  2. 

Post  No.  3.  Twelve  o'clock,  and  all  is  well.     Post  No.  3. 

Herder  [excited].  Corporal  of  the  guard  !  Corporal  of  the 
guard !  Get  out  here"  !  The  Indians  are  running  off  the 
mules  !  Get  out  here  !  All  the  mules  are  captured  by  the 
Indians  ! 

Corporal.  Hallo,  Squills !  what's  the  matter  with  the 
mules?  Wha-wha-what's  the  matter,  anyway  ?  Say!  See 
here,  old  pard;  don't  for  heaven's  sake  report  me  for  being 
asleep ! 

Squills.  Oh,  that's  all  right,  old  pard.  You  know  I'm  all 
O.  K.  on  that  score.  We'll  all  keep  mum.  You  know  mum 
is  the  word  with  us  old  veterans. 

Corporal.  Yes,  you  know  how  it  is  yourself,  old  pard.  I'll 
run  up  to  headquarters  and  report.  Blast  the  dirty  red- 
skins, I  wish  they  would  make  their  steal  on  us  in  the  day- 
time, when  we  are  awake.  This  hunting  after  Injuns  at  mid- 
night is  no  good  joke  for  soldiers.  [Corporal  of  the  guard 
hastens  to  the  commandant's  quarters  to  give  the  alarm. 

General.  Hallo  !  Who  is  there  ?     What  do  you  want  ? 

Corporal.  General,  the  Indians  have  made  a  raid  on  the 
mule  corral,  and  run  off  the  herd,  just  as  it  was  going  out 
to  graze. 

General.  How  do  you  know  they  were  Indians.  Do  you 
know  certainly  whether  they  were  Indians  or  white  men  ? 
Ring  that  bell  for  my  orderly. 

Corporal.  All  I  know,  General,  is  what  the  herder 'said. 
He  called  the  guard,  and  said  the  Indians  had  captured  the 
herd. 

General.  Do  you  know,  Corporal,  whether  the  herder  was 
awake  or  asleep  when  this  happened  ? 

Corporal.  He  was  certainly  awake,  General,  when  he 
called  me. 

General.  Orderly!  [Orderly  appears.]  Call  the  Drum- 
Major,  and  have  him  beat  the  long-roll,  and  get  my  field 
horse  and  orderly  here  quick.  [Exit  Orderly.]  Corporal, 
go  and  call  the  Indian  scouts,  and  have  them  mounted  at 
once.  [Exit  Corporal. 


18  SUBJUGATING 

Re-enter  ORDEELY. 

Orderly.  General,  your  field  horse  and  orderly  are  wait- 
ing at  the  door. 

General.  I  will  leave  matters  with  you  for  a  while,  adju- 
tant. [Exit  Genera]. 

Enter  MR.  BROADBRIM. 

Adjutant.  Good  morning,  Mr.  Broadbrim.  Be  seated,  sir. 
We  had  a  little  raid  on  our  mules  last  night.  I  thought 
those  Indians  acted  and  talked  like  peace  at  your  council 
yesterday. 

Mr.  B.  I  really  thought  so  myself.  Did  thee  think  they 
would  act  in  this  manner  on  such  short  notice  ? 

Adjutant.  Well,  I  will  tell  you,  Mr.  Broadbrim,  we  must 
expect  more  or  less  of  this  kind  of  trouble.  Those  wild, 
thieving  fellows  have  never  been  punished  very  severely  yet. 

Mr.  B.  Don't  thee  think  wo  can  make  peace  without  fight- 
ing? You  know  it  is  bad  to  bring  war  upon  ourselves. 
Don't  thee  think  so  ? 

Adjutant.  Yes,  I  know  war  is  bad  :  but  we  must  give  those 
fellows  a  good,  sound  thrashing,  and  teach  them  to  behave 
themselves. 

Mr.  B.  Dost  thee  think  the  General  will  have  to  fight 
them  to-day  ? 

Adjutant.  He  will  surely  give  them  a  fight  if  he  catches 
them.  That  is  just  what  he  intends  to  do. 

Mr.  B.  I  am  really  sorry  ;  I  thought  I  would  be  able  to 
arrange  some  kind  of  terms  for  peace,  in  a  day  or  two. 
[Rising  to  go.]  I  will  be  over  again,  and  see  what  will  have 
to  be  done.  [Exit. 

Enter  CAPTAIN  WINECOOP,  officer  of  the  day. 

Adjutant.  Well,  Captain  Winecoop,  how  is  the  garrison 
this  morning  ?  All  quiet  since  the  raid  on  the  mules  ? 

Capt.  W.  Well,  if  I  don't  think  that  was  the  finest  piece 
of  strategy  that  I  have  seen  in  a  long  time.  It  was  a  most 
successful  game  played  on  the  part  of  the  red-skins. 

Adjutant.  What  was  it,  Captain?  let  us  hear. 

Capt.  W.  Why,  don't  you  know  the  Broadbrim  agent  held 


THE   HOSTILES.  19 

a  sort  of  a  peace  council  yesterday,  over  on  the  Washita 
River,  and  all  the  while  he  was  entertaining  them,  and  mak- 
ing propositions  for  peace  with  old  Satanta,  their  young 
warriors  were  getting  ready  to  steal  the  mules. 

Adjutant.  I  am  satisfied  in  my  own  mind,  and  I  think  all 
of  our  military  men  are  of  the  same  opinion,  that  we  never 
will  have  any  peace  until  we  give  those  warriors  a  good 
whipping,  and  make  them  stay  on  a  reservation,  and  take 
their  ponies  away  from  them. 

Capt.  W.  That  is  just  what  we  have  got  to  do.  That  is 
General  Van  Couvner's  plan,  and  he  openly  and  boldly  says 
so.  [Enter  MB.  LITTLEJOHN,  a  citizen  of  Texas.]  Be  seated, 
sir ;  what  is  the  news  down  in  Texas  ? 

Mr.  L.  We  have  had  plenty  of  news  down  thar ;  an'  most 
horrid  news  it  is  for  us  citizens:  The  young  Kiowas  war 
down  thar  yesterday,  mounted  on  theer  fleetest  ponies,  an' 
run  off  a  lot  uv  fine  blooded  horses,  an'  killed  one  honest 
settler,  an'  tuk  his  wife  an'  two  children,  an'  tied  all  three 
of  'em  on  a  mule  tha'd  stole  uv  nabor  Peppersnapps,  an' 
then  put  'em  'tween  two  big  buck  Injuns,  who'd  whip  the  mule 
first  from  one  side  an'  then  from  tuther,  an'  kep'  the  mule  a 
kickin',  an'  a  snortin',  an'  a  howlin'  as  if  the  hul  Texas  cav- 
alry wer'  arter  'em.  They  kep'  up  a  big  laugh  an'  a  hollerin' 
all  the  while,  an'  thur  fleet  ponies  was  a  runnin'  thur  best 
speed,  an'  I  can  tell  yer,  Capt'in,  'twas  a  horrid  sight  to 
look  on-to. 

Adjutant.  It  seems  as  though  the  Indians  selected  yester- 
day and  last  night  to  make  their  raid.  They  run  off  sixty- 
five  mules  from  our  herd  last  night,  and  the  General  is  out 
after  them  now.  You  can  see  him  when  he  returns,  and  he 
will  render  you  and  your  citizens  in  Texas  all  the  assistance 
in  his  power. 

Mr.  L.  [rising  to  go.]  I  cen  tell  yer,  Mr.  Gapt'in,  if  sum- 
thin'  ain't  done  to  keep  them  ar  savages  away  from  our  set- 
tlers in  Texas,  we'll  turn  our  Rangers  on-to  'em  with  our 
shot-guns,  and  we'll  pepper  'em  clean  through  the  Brazos  tu 
the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  an'  will  niver  let  one  on  'em  cum  back 
here  alive ;  now  you  may  'pend  on  that.  Good-bye ;  I'll 
see  the  Gin'ral  when  he  comes.  [Exit  MR.  L. 


20  SUBJUGATING 

Enter  GENERAL. 

Adjutant.  Well,  General,  what  success? 

General.  Not  any  success  ;  the  pesky  red-skins  had  too 
much  the  start  of  us.  • 

Adjutant  A  citizen  from  Texas  came  in  to-day  and  reported 
the  Kiowas  had  been  down  there  and  killed  one  man  and 
captured  his  wife  and  two  children,  and  tied  them  on  a 
mule,  and  forced  it  to  run  and  keep  up  with  their  fleet 
ponies,  and  also  stole  a  lot  of  fine  blooded  horses. 

General.  I  heard  they  had  made  a  raid  there.  The  fact 
is,  the  whole  Kiowa  tribes  have  got  to  be  surrounded,  and 
the  leading  chiefs  and  warriors  have  got  to  be  whipped. 
They  may  have  peace  councils,  and  smooth  talk,  and  build 
school-houses ;  but  I  can  tell  them  the  warriors  have  got 
to  be  made  to  stay  on  their  reservations,  and  stop  this  mur- 
dering and  horse-stealing.  [Enter  MR.  BROADBRIM.]  Good 
morning,  Mr.  Broadbrim.  How  are  your  pet  Indians  pro- 
gressing in  the  way  of  farming  and  going  to  school  ? 

Mr.  B.  Well,  I  don't  know  why  we  can't  make  a  complete 
success  of  it.  The  leading  chiefs  were  at  the  council  yester- 
day, and  expressed  a  very  strong  desire  to  settle  on  farms 
and  have  their  children  go  to  school. 

General.  Did  you  hear  about  the  raid  they  made  in  Texas 
yesterday  ? 

Mr.  B.  Yes,  sir.  I  hardly  know  what  to  do  in  the  prem- 
ises. Could  thee  make  some  suggestions  in  the  case  ? 

General.  Yes,  sir ;  when  my  cavalry  returns  I  will  go  out 
and  surround  the  whole  tribe,  and  make  them  surrender 
that  woman  and  her  two  children,  or  else  whip  them  right 
then  and  there,  on  the  ground. 

Mr.  B.  But  you  know  it  would  be  cruel  for  thee  to  bring 
on  a  war ! 

General.  We  either  want  to  do  that,  or  take  six  leading 
chiefs  and  hold  them  as  hostages,  and  then,  if  they  refuse 
to  surrender  the  captives,  we  will  hang  three  of  the  chiefs, 
and  make  the  warriors  select  which  three  they  prefer  to 
have  hung.  That  is  my  way  of  handling  Indians  when  they 
commence  murdering  men  and  capturing  women  and  chil- 
dren. 


THE   HOSTILES.  21 

Mr.  B.  But,  General,  I  believe  I  can  persuade  them  to 
bring  in  the  captives  for  a  small  sum  of  money,  or  some 
goods  in  lieu  thereof. 

General.  You  may  possibly  ransom  them  for  a  good  round 
price  ;  but  it  is  a  dangerous  policy  to  pursue.  My  plan  is, 
subjugation  by  whipping  them — that  is,  if  they  persist  in 
going  on  the  war-path. 

Mr.  B.  I  will  talk  with  the  three  leading  chiefs  when  they 
come  for  rations,  and  see  what  can  be  done. 

[Exit  MR.  BROADBRIM. 

Enter  GENERAL'S  WIFE. 

Wife.  "What  pleases  you,  my  dear  ?  How  is  it  that  you 
are  so  good-natured  all  at  once  ?  Have  the  Kiowas  done 
something  to  please  you  ? 

General.  No  ;  but  their  school-teacher  has.  He  is  begin- 
ning to  teach  school  among  them  before  we  can  stop  them 
from  murdering  and  horse-stealing. 

Adjutant  [laughingly^.  I  think  Mr.  Broadbrim  is  a  good 
man,  and  means  all  for  the  best ;  and  will,  in  the  outcome, 
make  a  very  good  Indian  agent. 

Wife.  Why,  yes ;  you  know  he  has  been  here  but  a  few 
weeks,  and  has  had  very  little  opportunity  to  get  acquainted 
with  them.  You  officers  that  have  been  in  the  service  here 
for  years,  have  learned  their  ways,  and  know  better  how  to 
manage  them. 

General  I  think  he  is  making  splendid  progress  with  his 
new  acquaintances.  As  Governor  Wise  would  say,  "  I  don't 
think  he  has  been  properly  introduced."  While  he  was 
introducing  himself  among  the  leading  war  chiefs  at  the 
council,  the  young  warriors  were  on  one  of  their  regular 
tours  of  rapine  and  murder.  Their  system  of  brigandage  has 
been  tolerated  too  long,  and  they  must  be  made  to  desist. 
The  fact  is,  I  will  have  to  take  the  cavalry  and  give  them  a 
good  thrashing. 

Enter  MR.  BROADBRIM. 

Mr.  B.  General,  Satanta,  Lone  Wolf,  and  Kickingbird  are 
at  the  agency,  for  the  purpose  of  drawing  their  rations,  and 
I  think  it  will  be  well  to  make  them  a  proposition  to  bring 


22  SUBJUGATING 

in  that  woman  and  her  two  children  they  hold  as  cap- 
tives ;  also,  to  bring  in  those  mules.  What  dost  thee  think 
about  it  ? 

General.  All  the  proposition  you  want  to  make  to  them 
is,  that  they  will  get  no  more  rations  for  themselves  nor 
their  tribes,  and  they  may  look  for  a  fight  at  any  time,  if 
they  refuse  to  surrender  that  woman  and  her  children,  and 
drive  back  those  mules  they  stole.  Tell  them  you  will  with- 
hold their  rations  until  they  comply  with  your  demands. 
You  never  want  to  propose  to  the  Indians  ;  you  must  always 
make  a  formal  demand,  and  then  make  them  comply.  That 
is  the  easiest  and  the  quickest  way  to  settle  matters  with 
them. 

Mr.  B.  Dost  thee  think,  General,  I  had  better  have  the 
leading  chiefs  come  in  and  talk  with  thee  ?  Dost  thee  think 
thee  can  have  a  better  impression  upon  their  untutored 
minds  ? 

General.  We  don't  want  to  simply  make  an  impression,  we 
must  make  them  comply  with  every  demand  that  we  may  be 
pleased  to  make  upon  them.  That  policy  rigidly  enforced 
will  soon  settle  the  Indian  troubles.  They  never  will  want 
whipping  but  once,  you  may  depend. 

Mr.  B.  All  right.  I  will  go  and  invite  the  chiefs  here,  to 
confer  with  thee.  [Exit. 

General.  Now  we  shall  have  a  renewal  of  the  farce.  But 
I,  for  one,  am  resolved  upon  stern  measures  to  force  com- 
plete compliance  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  with  our  de- 
mands. 


THE    HOSTILES.  23 


CHAPTER  III. 

General  Van  Couvnor's  Headquarters — Conference  with  hading 
Warriors — The  Denouement. 

Agent  Broadbrim,  the  conscientious  devotee  of  peace 
measures,  was  so  far  successful  in  Ms  mission  of  good  will 
toward  the  recreant  savages  as  to  induce  three  influential 
chiefs,  Ten  Bears,  White  Bear  and  Dogtail,  to  return  with 
him  and  hold  a  conference  at  the  military  headquarters  with 
the  commandant  of  the  post.  As  usual,  the  old  chiefs  place 
the  blame  upon  the  young  warriors,  whom  they  claim  they 
cannot  control,  and  deny  all  responsibility  in  an  affair  that 
they  re'gret  only  in  so  far  as  it  may  imperil  the  certainty  of 
their  rations.  The  matter  ends  with  a  display  of  force  on 
the  part  of  the  military,  and  the  subsequent  ransom  of  the 
unhappy  captives,  who  are  restored  unharmed  to  their 
friends.  The  conference  is  opened  in  the  usual  way  by  the 
agents,  the  interpreter  being  present  to  explain  to  each 
party  the  (to  them)  unknown  language  of  the  other. 

Mr.  B.  General,  I  have  prevailed  upon  these  three  chiefs 
to  come  and  have  a  talk  with  thee  in  regard  to  those  cap- 
tives and  stolen  mules. 

Ten  Bears.  We  did  not  know  our  young  men  were  going 
to  steal  mules. 

White  Bear.  I  was  at  the  big  talkee  on  the  Washita.  I 
didn't  know  our  young  men  were  going  out.  They  have 
acted  very  bad,  and  we  big  chiefs  don't  like  it. 

General.  Well,  Dogtail,  what  can  you  say  for  yourself? 
Can  you  explain  how  it  is  that  your  young  men  go  out  and 
murder  and  steal  mules  and  horses  ? 

Dogtail.  We  can't  always  keep  our  young  men  at  home. 
Sometimes  they  act  bad  and  we  can't  help  it.  The  white 
men  kill  our  buffalo  and  antelope,  and  then  our  warriors  go 
off  and  act  bad,  and  we  can't  help  it. 

General.  Will  you  bring  in  that  woman  and  her  two  chil- 
dren all  safe  in  ten  days  ? 

Dogtail*  May -be-so.  If  you  make  our  hearts  good  I  think 
we  can.  Our  hearts  must  be  made  good. 


24  SUBJUGATING 

Mr.  B.  I  think  we  can  make  your  hearts  good  if  you  will 
bring  them  in  without  any  trouble. 

General.  If  you  will  make  your  men  bring  in  that  woman 
and  her  two  children  and  those  stolen  mules  and  horses 
within  ten  days  I  will  keep  my  cavalry  away  from  your 
tribes.  If  they  are  not  here  in  ten  days  I  will  make  a  fight 
for  them.  Now  do  you  understand  what  I  say  ? 

DogtaiL  I  think  we  can  get  them.  You  must  make  our 
hearts  glad  when  we  do.  May-be-so-a-heap-good.  Heap- 
good-big-white-chief. 

General.  I  tell  you,  Mr.  Broadbrim,  they  are  a  hard  set. 
There  is  one  thing  that  ought  to  be  done.  The  proper 
authorities  should  restrain  the  pleasure-hunters  from  killing 
the  buffalo  for  mere  sport.  Whenever  we  have  trouble  with 
any  of  the  tribes  they  invariably  bring  up  that  excuse. 
Some  action  ought  to  be  taken,  and  I  think  it  conies  within 
the  compass  of  your  office. 

Mr.  B.  I  hope  we  will  be  able  to  manage  them  without 
any  trouble.  As  the  last  resort,  General,  I  will  have  to  send 
for  thee  and  thy  cavalry.  It  may  produce  a  good  effect. 

General.  We  have  but  one  policy  to  pursue,  and  that  is  to 
stand  firm.  I  think  by  stopping  their  rations  we  will  gain 
our  point.  However,  if  you  want  my  troops  to  help  at  any 
time,  let  me  know.  I  am  at  your  service  with  my  whole 
command. 

Mr.  B.  Thanks,  General.  If  I  need  your  services  I  will 
send  a  courier.  Good  day.  [Exit  MR.  B.  and  INDIANS.  An 
hour  later  a  COURIER  arrives. 

Courier.  Here  is  a  request  from  Mr.  Broadbrim.  He  wants 
you  to  send  troops  at  once. 

General.  Just  as  I  expected.  He  says  he  wants  troops  to 
protect  the  public  property.  Yes,  I  see.  Orderly,  call 
Captain  Beardslee.  Adjutant,  make  an  order  to  Captain 
Beardslee  to  report  with  his  troop  to  Mr.  Broadbrim  at  the 
Indian  Agency.  He  is  not  to  use  force  of  arms  only  to  pro- 
tect the  lives  of  persons  and  property. 

Enter  CAPTAIN  BEARDSLEE.  , 

Captain,  move  your  troop  quietly  over  to  the  agency,  and 
use  your  best  judgment  in  rendering  the  agent  such  protec- 


THE   HOSTiLES.  25 

tion  as  he  may  require.  The  object  of  this  move  is  to  secure 
a  surrender  of  that  woman  and  her  two  children. 

Capt.  B.  Very  well,  General ;  good  day.  [Exit. 

General  I  anticipate  some  trouble  before  we  get  hold  of 
those  captives.  Now,  if  neighbor  Broadbrim  will  only  stand 
firm,  and  not  weaken  himself  into  a  ransom,  we  will  recover 
that  woman  and  her  children.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  send 
Beardslee  there  with  his  troop. 

Enter  the  GENERAL'S  WIFE. 

Wife.  I  noticed  a  troop  of  cavalry  moving  out  towards 
the  Indian  camp.  Is  there  anything  the  matter  with  the 
warriors  ? 

General.  No,  there  is  no  outbreak.  We  are  trying  to  re- 
cover that  Texas  woman  and  her  children.  They  have  them 
over  at  the  agency,  and  neighbor  Broadbrim  expressed  some 
fears  in  regard  to  the  safety  of  property,  and  I  ordered  out 
a  troop  of  cavalry. 

Wife  [laughingly].  Why  in  the  world  don't  you  go  over 
yourself  ?  Why  do  you  leave  neighbor  Broadbrim  to  take 
hold  of  such  an  important  matter  ?  You  know  how  ugly 
those  wild  fellows  are  when  they  are  about  to  surrender 
anything  they  have  once  captured.  Come,  go  along  over, 
and  I  will  go  with  you.  I  want  to  see  those  poor  captives. 

General.  I  have  no  objections  to  going  over ;  but  I  was 
rather  inclined  to  think  that  neighbor  Broadbrim  would  pre- 
fer to  make  his  own  arrangements  concerning  the  captives. 

Wife.  Well,  you  can  go  over  with  me.  I  want  to  see  if 
that  woman  and  her  children  are  in  want  of  anything  to 
make  them  comfortable.  The  ladies  in  the  garrison  are 
prepared  to  assist  in  making  clothing,  and  to  help  take  care 
of  them. 

[  The  GENERAL  and  his  WIFE  repair  to  the  Indian  Agency 
Buildings,  and  witness  the  dose  of  the  following  conference  'be- 
tween AGENT  BROADBRIM  and  the  chiefs — the  conversation,  as 
usual,  being  carried  on  through  the  interpreter.'] 

Mr.  B.  [to  Indians.]  Be  seated,  and  let  us  hear  what  thee 
has  to  say.  Are  thee  well  ?  Dost  thee  feel  tired  ? 

3  Chiefs  [each  one  gives  a  grunt,  and  says,]    How,  how  ? 


SUBJUGATING 

Mr.  B.  Well,  what  has  thee  to  say  about  those  captives 
and  mules? 

Dog  Tail.  Well,  Mr.  Calico  Chief,  we  have  got  your  Texas 
squaw  and  her  papooses  for  you.  Now  what  are  you  going 
to  do  to  make  our  hearts  glad  ? 

Mr.  B.  Thee  can  deliver  the  captives  to  Captain  Beards- 
lee,  who  will  take  good  care  of  them,  and  I  will  issue  thee 
thy  rations. 

Dog  Tai1.  We  want  money,  blankets,  and  calico ;  our 
hearts  will  then  be-a-heap-good. 

Mr.  B.  I  have  no  money  for  you,  and  I  must  have  the  wo- 
man and  children.  How  about  the  mules  you  promised  to 
bring  in  ? 

Dog  Tail.  We  have  got  most  all  the  mules.  Our  young 
men  sold  only  a  few  of  them.  We  want  twelve  hundred 
dollars  for  Texas  squaw  and  her  papooses,  and  the  mules. 
May-be-so-thirty-may-be-so-forty-mules.  Braves  sold  some. 

Mr.  B.  I  want  that  woman  and  her  two  children  at  once. 
Captain  Beardslee  will  proceed  to  surround  your  tribe,  un- 
less thee  comply  with  my  request  instanter.  Subito,  in- 
stanter. 

Dog  Tail.  I  want  to  have  a-heap-big-talkee  with  the  other 
big  chief,  and  will  come  in  men-yan-na  and  let  you  know. 

Mr.  B.  Captain  Beardslee,  will  thee  please  take  such 
steps  as  will  secure  possession  of  those  captives  at  once  ?  I 
shall  not  trifle  any  longer. 

Capt  B.  Orderly,  sound  the  bugle  for  the  troop  to  dis- 
mount and  get  in  position. 

[Bugler  sounds  the  call  Indians  and  squaws  run  to  rear  of 
AGENT'S  office.  Troopfiles  in,  CAPTAIN  BEAEDSLEE  at  the  head, 
with  drawn  sabre.  Indians  string  their  bows  in  great  excite- 
ment. DOG  TAIL  manifests  great  anger.  Bloodshed  seems  immi- 
nent. 

Mr.  B.  Now  I  demand  those  captives  at  once. 

Capt.  B.  We  will  not  dilly-dally  one  moment.  Give  us 
the  captives  at  once,  or  I  will  take  every  one  of  you  to  the 
guard-house.  Every  one  of  you  unstring  your  bows,  and 
keep  your  arrows  in  the  quivers. 

[  The  GENERAL  enters,  with  his  WIFE  on  his  arm.  His  presence, 
in  a  measure,  quiets  the  disturbance.  The  captives  are  brought 


THE   HOSTILES. 


27 


forward,  and  received  kindly  by  the  GENERAL'S  WIFE,  wlw  leads 
tliem  away.  Indians  grunt  and  unstring  their  bows.  DOG  TAIL 
shalces  hands  heartily  with  the  GENERAL.] 

Dog  Tail.  Big  white  chief  heap  good.  Heap-a-good-chuck- 
Calico-chief-no-good,  no-good.  Heap-bad-medicine. 

Mr.  B.  Now  I  want  the  mules  your  young  men  run  off  the 
other  night. 

Dog  Tail.  May-be-so-me-yan-na-me-bring-a-heap-o'-mules. 
Young  men  got  'em  on  the  grass.  May-be-so-one-day-may- 
be-so-two-days-me-come,  heap-o'-mules. 

Mr.  B.  Captain  Beardslee  will  hold  six  of  thy  men  until 
thee  make  thy  young  men  bring  in  the  mules. 

Dog  Tail.  We  want  six  hundred  dollars  in  money,  and 
then  we  will  bring  in  the  mules.  We  have  made  your  hearts 
glad  with  the  white  squaw  and  papooses,  and  now  you 
must  make  our  hearts  glad  with  money  We  will  bring 
the  mules  to-morrow,  sure,  and  all  the  time  be  good  In- 
dians, if  you  will  give  us  six  hundred  dollars.  I  don't  want 
it  all  myself.  Squaws  and  papooses  get  it  to  swap  for 
blankets,  calico,  sugar,  and  coffee. 

Mr.  B.  What  say  thee,  General,  in  regard  to  this  demand 
from  Dog  Tail  ?  Will  thee  be  satisfied  ? 

General.  I  have  no  objections  to  giving  them  something  for 
their  services  in  helping  us  to  get  our  mules  back.  I  think 
it  will  be  well  enough  to  give  it  to  them  when  they  return 
the  mules.  I  am  of  the  same  opinion  now  that  I  have 
always  entertained — it  is  a  very  bad  policy  to  pursue.  It 
only  helps  to  perpetuate  the  ransom-traffic  between  our- 
selves and  the  wild  tribes. 

Mr.  B.  Well,  Dog  Tail,  you  have  been  a  very  good  Indian 
to-day,  and  I  will  give  each  of  you  three  chiefs  two  hundred 
dollars  if  you  will  bring  in  those  mules.  I  have  no  money, 
but  will  give  you  orders  on  the  trader,  and  he  will  let  you 
have  what  you  want.  Now  you  must  bring  the  mules  in  ten 
days. 

Dog  Tail.  Oh,  yes ;  me  have  my  young  men  bring  in  heap-o'- 
mules.  Me-give-'em-to-big-white-chief.  Heap-good-mules- 
and-heap-o'-goocl-big-white-chief.  Good-bye,  good-bye. 

[Shakes  hands  all  around. 


28  SUBJUGATING 


SECTION  II. 

OUSTER'S  LAST  BATTLE  AGAINST 
SITTING  BULL. 


CHAPTER  I. 

The  Record  from  1868. 

With  the  incidents  of  the  memorable  Indian  fight  of  June 
25th,  1876,  between  Lieut. -Colonel  G.  A.  Custer,  with  five 
companies  of  the  7th  Cavalry,  and  Sitting  Bull,  the  invinci- 
ble chief  of  the  lawless  hordes  of  hostile  Indians  who  infest 
the  north-west  plains,  the  world  is  already  familiar.  Scarcely 
yet  can  the  American  people  contemplate  with  calmness  the 
wholesale  butchery  of  a  brave  officer  of  the  cavalry  service,  to- 
gether with  nearly  three  hundred  men  of  his  command.  The 
gallant  struggle  of  the  doomed  battalion,  enclosed  in  that 
living  cordon  of  wild  and  yelling  savages,  from  which  none 
escaped  to  tell  the  story  of  their  fate,  is  without  parallel  in 
the  history  of  the  western  world. 

The  tale  of  their  dashing  onset,  their  reckless  charge  into 
overwhelming  numbers  of  merciless  foes,  their  glorious  stand 
when  hope  was  gone,  their  valorous  defense,  and  death,  sub- 
limely courted  in  the  charge  and  on  the  skirmish  line,  has  been 
told  and  re-told.  Never,  while  the  world  stands,  will  be  forgot- 
ten the  tragic  fate  of  the  chivalrous  three  hundred,  who  fell 
with  their  gallant  leader  on  that  bloody  field  of  unequal 
strife.  History  has  recorded  imperishably  the  grandeur  of 
their  final  charge.  Their  dauntless  death  is  celebrated  in 
song  and  story.  Their  names  are  household  words  in  every 
home,  and  their  memory  is  embalmed  forever  in  the  grateful 
admiration  of  their  countrymen. 

But  of  the  minor  events  that  form  the  links  in  the  length- 


MAJOR-GENERAL  GEORGE  A.  CUSTER. 


THE   HOSTILES.  29 

ened  chain  of  circumstances  that  led  to  the  final  result,  and 
brought  about  the  bloody  catastrophe,  little  is  known  to  the 
general  public.  To  present  these  minor  facts  in  concise 
form  is  the  object  of  these  pages.  To  that  end  we  shall  state 
succinctly  :  First.  The  operating  causes  that  led  to  the  war 
with  the  Sioux  and  their  allies,  and  which  culminated  in  the 
sending  out  by  the  Government  of  the  expedition  of  1876 ; 
and  secondly,  the  occurrences  by  which  Lieutenant-Colonel 
G.  A.  Ouster  incurred  the  bitter  enmity  of  the  Indian  war- 
rior Rain-in-the-Face — who  slew  him  on  his  final  battle-field 
— and  which  led  to  the  outpouring  of  ostensibly  peaceful 
bands  of  Agency  Indians,  to  join  the  hostiles  in  their  march 
to  intercept  the  white  warriors. 

It  is  a  fact  not  to  be  gainsaid  that  open  hostilities  on  the 
part  of  the  Sioux  were  provoked  by  the  violation,  on  the  part 
of  the  Government,  of  the  treaty  of  1868,  by  the  stipulations 
of  which  the  territory  of  the  Black  Hills  and  adjacent  re- 
gion were  declared  an  inviolable  part  of  the  Indian  reserva- 
tion, sacred  to  their  use,  and  not  to  be  trespassed  upon  by 
white  men.  Forts  Reno  and  Kearney  were  abandoned,  and 
the  whole  country  given  up  to  Sitting  Bull,  the  leader  of 
the  scattered  but  powerful  bands  of  hostiles  who  infested  the 
western  plains. 

Three  years  later  (in  1871)  it  was  adjudged  expedient  by 
the  Government  to  break  the  provisions  of  the  treaty  of  1868. 
The  officials  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad,  then  in  pro- 
cess of  construction  across  the  continent,  in  the  spring  of 
1871,  applied  to  the  Government  authorities  at  Washington 
for  military  protection  and  escort  for  a  surveying  party  to 
be  sent  out  during  the  summer  of  that  year  to  explore  and 
mark  out  the  unsurveyed  portion  of  the  projected  road — a 
line  extending  westward  from  the  Missouri  Iliver  in  Dakota 
to  the  interior  of  Montana,  west  of  the  Yellowstone  Iliver. 
Authority  was  duly  granted  :  the  rights  of  the  Indians  being 
deemed  of  minor  importance  in  the  grand  scheme  of  opening 
up  the  vast  and  fertile  fields  of  the  new  north-west  to  rail- 
road enterprise,  with  its  attendant  train  of  settlers. 

The  expedition,  conducted  by  engineers  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad,  and  escorted  by  United  States  troops,  left 


30  .  SUBJUGATING 

Fort  Bice  in  June,  1871,  and  completed  its  mission  in  safety 
— no  Indians  molesting  them,  or  interfering  in  any  way  with 
their  progress. 

Again,  on  July  25th,  1872,  a  similar  expedition  left  Fort 
Rice,  and  returned  in  October,  1872,  having  successfully  ac- 
complished the  exploration  and  survey  of  a  route  through 
Yellowstone  Valley,  reaching  to  the  river  of  that  name,  and 
to  the  mouth  of  Powder  River. 

This  party  encountered  many  hostile  Indians,  and  their 
return  march  is  described  as  a  series  of  skirmishes. 

When  near  Fort  Rice,  on  their  return,  Lieutenant  Adair, 
of  the  22d  Infantry,  and  Lieutenant  Crosby,  of  the  17th  In- 
fantry, were  killed — the  latter  being  shot,  scalped,  and  other- 
wise mutilated — by  an  Indian  called  "  the  Gaul,"  a  notorious 
criminal  and  consumer  of  Cheyenne  Agency  rations.  This 
murderer  has  since  surrendered  himself  to  the  military  au- 
thorities, and  is  now  a  pensioner,  as  before,  upon  the  boun- 
ty of  the  Government. 

In  July,  1873,  a  third  expedition  left  Fort  Rice  on  a  simi- 
lar mission — the  engineers  and  surveyors  of  the  N.  P.  R.  R., 
under  the  direction  of  General  Rosser,  the  troops,  compris- 
ing the  escort,  under  command  of  General  Stanley,  and  ac- 
companied by  Lieutenant-Colonel  Custer  with  the  7th  Cav- 
alry Regiment.  The  force  consisted  of  about  1,700  men — 
cavalry,  infantry,  a  battery  of  artillery,  and  a  detachment  of 
Indian  scouts. 

This  party  encountered  hostile  Indians  near  the  Yellow- 
stone, and  on  August  4th,  several  companies  of  the  7th  Cav- 
alry, under  Custer,  had  a  sharp  engagement  with  a  body  of 
Sioux,  under  Sitting  Bull,  resulting  in  the  loss  of  one  sol- 
dier, surprised  at  a  spring,  the  wounding  of  Lieutenant  Bra- 
den,  and  the  murder  of  Dr.  Houtzinger,  veterinary  surgeon, 
and  Mr.  Baliran,  sutler  of  the  7th  Cavalry — they  being  un- 
armed, detached  from  the  main  body,  and  unsuspicious  of 
danger. 

The  expedition  returned  to  Fort  Rice  during  the  latter 
part  of  September — the  engineers  having  fully  completed 
their  explorations,  and  mapped  out  in  detail  the  future  course 
of  the  road. 


THE    HOSTILES.  31 

As  may  well  be  imagined,  these  frequent  invasions  of  their 
territory  by  armed  troops,  awakened  the  most  bitter  resent- 
ment in  the  breasts  of  the  hostile  Indians,  and  when,  in  1874, 
in  obedience  to  the  demands  of  the  press,  that  the  territory 
of  the  Black  Hills  should  be  explored  and  opened  to  settle- 
ment, it  was  decided  by  the  Government  to  send  an  explor- 
ing expedition  of  armed  troops  into  that  hitherto  unknown 
stronghold  of  the  savages,  the  seal  was  set  upon  the  crown- 
ing act  of  its  long  series  of  annually-broken  faith. 

It  had  long  been  matter  of  popular  belief  in  the  north- 
west that  gold  existed  in  the  Black  Hills,  and  when,  at  last, 
the  truth  of  these  hitherto  vague  reports  was  established  to 
a  certainty  in  many  adventurous  minds,  the  excitement  be- 
came contagious,  and  parties  of  miners  began  to  organize 
for  the  invasion  of  the  Hills.  Then  it  was  determined  by 
the  Government  to  send  a  strong  column  of  troops  to  thor- 
oughly explore  the  Black  Hills,  and  ascertain,  through  offi- 
cial research,  the  truth  or  falsity  of  these  golden  rumors. 

Accordingly,  July  1st,  1874,  a  force  under  Lieutenant-Col- 
onel Ouster,  comprising  cavalry,  infantry,  four  Gatling  guns, 
and  sixty  Indian  scouts — 1,200  strong — and  accompanied  by 
a  huge  wagon-train  of  provisions  and  baggage,  left  Fort  Lin- 
coln and  took  up  the  line  of  march  for  the  Black  Hills.  The 
party  proceeded  without  molestation  by  Indians,  although 
many  hostiles  were  seen  along  the  routs.  The  discoveries 
of  this  expedition  were  such  as  to  satisfy  the  most  skeptical 
in  regard  to  the  mineral  and  agricultural  wealth  of  the  Black 
Hills  region.  Miners  and  other  resolute  pioneers  began  to 
pour  into  the  country. 

The  scientists,  however,  were  not  yet  satisfied,  and  to  quiet 
the  learned  disputes  of  the  self- constituted  geologists  of  the 
period,  a  second  expedition,  under  direction  of  Professor 
Jenney,  with  military  escort  commanded  by  Colonel  Dodge, 
9th  Infantry,  was  sent  from  Fort  Laramie  the  following  year 
—1875. 

Their  report,  corroborative  of  the  report  of  the  expedi- 
tion of  the  preceding  year,  was  not  required  to  convince  the 
hardy  western  pioneers  of  the  desirability  of  the  Hills  ad  a 
place  of  residence.  They  required  no  encouragement  in  the 


32  SUBJUGATING 

shape  of  Government  explorations,  to  brave  the  dangers  of 
the  trip,  and  to  press  in  and  occupy  the  land. 

Then  it  was  that  the  Government  awoke  to  a  realization 
of  the  consequences  likely  to  flow  from  its  frequent  violation 
of  treaty  obligations.  A  general  war  between  the  settlers 
and  the  Indians  seemed  imminent,  if,  indeed,  an  indiscrim- 
inate massacre  of  the  former  did  not  ensue.  Every  trail 
leading  to  the  Black  Hills  was  marked  with  bloodshed,  and 
safety  was  found  only  in  the  interior  of  the  Hills,  where  the 
superstition  of  the  Indians  did  not  allow  them  to  penetrate. 
Then,  too  late,  began  the  efforts  of  the  Government  to  repair 
the  wrong.  An  order  was  issued,  warning  the  settlers  to 
leave  the  Hills.  Several  times  during  the  summer  of  1875, 
the  troops  under  General  Crook  were  sent  into  the  Hills  to 
maintain  the  faith  of  the  Government  by  removing  the  set- 
tlers from  the  territory.  They  were  conveyed  out  of  the 
country  by  military  escort,  imprisoned  in  military  posts  as 
breakers  of  the  law,  their  property  destroyed,  and  them- 
selves finally  turned  over  to  civil  authoriby,  to  be  punished 
for  disobedience  of  the  orders  of  the  Federal  Government. 
But  all  to  no  avail.  Popular  sympathy  in  the  west  was  with 
them.  Soon  as  released  they  invariably  returned  to  the  dis- 
puted territory,  only  to  be  again  removed,  and  to  again  re- 
turn. In  August,  1875,  there  were  six  hundred  men  in  one 
locality,  called  "  Ouster  City,"  and  many  others  in  different 
localities.  When  removed  by  military  authority,  these 
speedily  returned,  and  the  efforts  of  the  Government  to  re- 
pair its  broken  faith,  by  removing  and  keeping  out  white  set- 
tlers, were  as  futile  as  the  military  invasions  of  the  country, 
under  its  sanction  and  direction,  had  been  successful. 

So  much  for  the  causes  that  led  to  the  breaking  out  of  the 
war  on  the  part  of  the  Sioux. 

We  are  now  to  consider  the  relations  of  the  chief  actor  in 
the  tragedy  in  which  it  closed — George  A.  Custer,  Lieuten- 
ant-Colonel of  the  7th  Cavalry — :with  a  leader  of  the  hostiles, 
who  fired  the  shot  that  terminated  his  life,  in  the  battle  of 
the  Little  Big  Horn,  and  thus  gratified  the  vengeance  for 
which  he  and  his  followers  had  long  waited  in  the  mountain 
fastnesses  of  Sitting  Bull's  domain.  Some  of  the  incidents 


THE    HOSTELES.  33 

•we  are  about  to  relate  may  seem  trivial  and  unimportant, 
but  they  were  all  links  in  the  chain  of  destiny  that  was  draw- 
ing the  "  long-haired  chieftain "  irresistibly  toward  his 
tragic  fate. 

One  bright  morning  in  the  spring  of  1875  the  peaceful  cit- 
izens of  a  quiet  little  town  on  the  Missouri  River,  in  Da- 
kota Territory,  were  immeasurably  astonished  to  witness 
a  company  of  the  7th  Cavalry,  under  command  of  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel G.  A.  Custer,  come  riding  up  their  streets, 
fully  armed  and  equipped  as  if  for  instant  action.  Nor  was 
their  surprise  lessened  when  it  became  known  that  the  ob- 
ject of  the  warlike  display  was  nothing  more  nor  less  than 
the  capture  of  sundry  bags  of  grain  that  had  been  stolen 
from  the  Government  warehouses  at  Fort  Lincoln  by  the 
soldiers  and  citizen  thieves,  and  sold  to  sundry  citizens  of 
the  town.  After  the  capture  of  the  bags  of  grain  was  suc- 
cessfully effected,  and  loaded  on  army  wagons,  and,  taking 
with  them  several  persons  who  had  been  concerned  in  the 
illegal  transfer  of  Government  property,  the  train  returned 
in  good  order  to  Fort  Lincoln. 


CHAPTER  II. 

OUSTER 

The    Grain    Thieves   and   Rain-in-the-Face. — The   Unrelenting 

Warrior. 

To  make  the  record  more  complete  in  regard  to  army 
matters,  and  more  especially  in  relation  to  the  troubles  and 
torments  too  often  inflicted  upon  officers  of  high  rank  in  the 
regular  army,  the  writer  will  here  introduce  circumstances 
with  relation  to  certain  current  events  as  they  transpired,  in 
order  to  more  clearly  and  pointedly  illustrate  to  the  reader 
how  General  Custer,  while  in  command  at  different  stations, 
as  well  as  other  officers  of  high  rank  in  the  regular  army  at 
the  present  day,  whose  moral  training  having  been  good,  and 
always  with  an  eye  to  good  discipline  and  the  morale  of  their 
respective  commands,  also  army  society  and  communities 


34  SUBJUGATING 

in  civil  life  are  compelled  not  only  to  accept  the  presence, 
but  to  a  certain  extent,  the  services  of  unprincipled  and 
profligate  scapegoats,  who,  by  accident,  hold  their  positions 
either  by  commission  or  special  appointment,  not  only  to 
the  horrid  disgust,  but  to  the  actual  disgrace  and  discredit 
of  our  worthy  professional  army  officers  and  their  families,  as 
well  as  to  all  civilized  and  well-regulated  communities  who 
are  at  times  compelled  to  accept  the  services  of,  whenever 
enforced  upon  them,  a  certain  immoral  and  wretched  class 
of  imported  floating  spawn,  that,  hold  positions  by  accident. 

General  Ouster,  in  his  well-meant  efforts  to  preserve  "the 
morale  of  the  rank  and  file  of  his  command,  and  to  enforce 
good  order  and  discipline  throughout*  the  garrison  at  which 
he  was  stationed,  did  not  escape  the  annoyances,  or  avoid 
the  obstacles  usually  encountered  by  United  States  army 
officers  of  high  rank  in  similar  measures  of  reform. 

Not  the  least  difficulty  in  the  way  of  success  in  such  efforts, 
is  found  in  the  character,  or  rather  the  lack  of  character,  of 
many  of  their  subordinate  officers ;  and  this  is  due  to  the 
appointments  from  civil  life,  made  after  the  close  of  the  war, 
by  congressmen  of  a  certain  class,  who,  for  a  time,  regarded 
the  army  as  an  asylum  for  their  poor  relatives  and  distressed 
constituents,  many  of  whom  were  wholly  unfit  for  their  posi- 
tions, both  on  account  of  utter  incompetency  and  intemperate 
habits.  This  class  of  appointments  having  been  forced  upon 
the  army  by  unprincipled  politicians,  tended  greatly  to  re- 
duce the  morale  of  the  army  and  to  lower  the  standard  of 
social  life  in  army  circles,  and  rendered  also  much  more 
difficult  the  task  of  commanding  officers  in  enforcing  disci- 
pline and  orderly  behavior  in  their  respective  commands. 

General  Ouster  was  not  exempt  from  these  annoyances, 
but  frequently  found  his  plans  for  enforcing  army  regulations 
seriously  interfered  with  by  the  inconsiderate  and  unauthor- 
ized action  of  his  subordinates. 

On  one  occasion,  General  Ouster  had  occasion  to  detail  a 
Lieutenant  from  his  command  on  special  secret  service  for 
the  Government. 

A  gang  of  grain  and  horse  thieves  infested  the  garrison, 
whom  it  was  important  to  shadow  at  their  base  of  operations 
in  a  neighboring  village. 


THE   HOSTILES.  35 

The  officer  assumed  the  role  of  detective,  took  up  his  sta- 
tion in  the  village,  under  positive  orders  from  General  Ouster 
"  to  let  no  guilty  man  escape,"  which  order,  unlike  that  of 
President  Grant's  in  the  whisky  ring  cases,  was  given  in  all 
sincerity,  and  with  the  expectation  that  it  would  be  carried 
out  to  the  letter. 

But  instead  of  conducting  himself  as  an  officer  and  gen- 
tleman, and  thereby  justifying  the  confidence  reposed  in 
him  by  his  superior  officer,  his  special  attentions  were  re- 
served for  a  damsel  of  African  extraction  and  chocolate  com- 
plexion, who  had  long  been  a  sort  of  silent  partner  in  his 
household  joys  and  sorrows,  and  who  had  added  to  his  re- 
sponsibilities and  contributed  an  infinitesimal  unit  to  the  roll 
of  the  census-taker  of  the  village  aforesaid  at  the  same  time. 

His  regular  associates  were  the  miscreants  and  low  flung 
gamblers  of  the  town,  and  his  most  frequent  haunts  the  dens 
and  dives  where  their  evil  games  flourished  unmolested. 

Of  the  gang  of  thieves  who  were  detected  with  stolen 
grain  in  their  possession,  but  very  few  were  brought  to  trial, 
and  fewer  still  were  punished.  One  or  two  of  minor  influ- 
ence were  selected  as  victims,  and  their  conviction  was 
procured  in  the  courts.  The  other  and  more  prominent 
leaders  of  the  gang  were  permitted  to  go  unpunished,  and 
the  officer  afterwards  openly  and  boldly  boasted  of  the  favor- 
itism shown  certain  guilty  but  influential  parties,  who, 
through  his  connivance,  were  permitted  to  escape  the  pun- 
ishment that  was  their  due. 

This  profligate  officer,  who  thus  proved  faithless  to  the 
trust  imposed  on  him,  to  gratify  his  own  personal  designs 
and  illegitimate  purposes,  when  leaving  the  country  left  be- 
hind him  another  sprig  of  his  paternity,  in  the  shape  of  a 
curbstone-shyster,  whether  to  take  charge  of  the  bastard 
responsibility  aforesaid,  or  to  render  aid  and  encouragement 
to  the  gang  of  outcasts,  thugs  and  petty  imported  govern- 
ment thieves  who  still  hold  sway  on  the  frontier  (and  who 
are  his  constant  associates)  does  not  appear. 

The  reader,  doubtless,  already  knows  too  well  that  our 
social  circles,  both  in  the  army  and  civil  life,,  are  drifted  over 
with  this  class  of  profligates,  and  the  writer  has  simply  call- 


36  SUBJUGATING 

ed  up  this  matter  to  show  how  military  circles  have  been 
imposed  upon  by  the  appointment  of  such  unprincipled 
men,  who,  in  all  probability,  could  not  make  a  respectable 
living  outside  the  army,  but  who  have  obtained  commis- 
sions through  transitory  political  influence,  and  are  thrown 
in  to  fill  vacancies  caused  by  the  death  or  resignation  of 
worthier  men. 

It  is,  however,  proper  to  state  that  this  evil  has  of  late 
been  counteracted  greatly  by  the  action  of  the  better  class 
of  officers,  many  of  whom  have  gone  to  work  earnestly  to 
weed  out  from  the  service,  wherever  practicable,  these  un- 
principled vagabonds,  who  disgrace  the  uniform  they  wear, 
and  who  have  sought  a  commission  in  the  army,  only  to  find 
there  an  asylum  for  life. 

The  entire  blame,  as  already  said,  for  this  unwarranted 
state  of  affairs  in  the  United  States  army,  lies  at  the  doors 
of  unscrupulous  members  of  Congress,  who  recommend  for 
appointments  in  the  army  the  worthless  and  degraded  loaf- 
ers of  their  respective  districts,  as  a  reward  for  political 
service. 

If  the  better  class  of  officers  continue  to  apply  the  remedy 
at  their  hands,  and  administer  the  medicine  freely,  the  result 
will  add  greatly  to  their  personal  credit,  and  be  highly  con- 
ducive to  a  more  wholesome  discipline,  and  increased  respect- 
ability, and  better  morale  of  the  army.  The  only  suggestion 
the  writer  has  to  make  is,  "  Let  the  good  work  go  on — keep 
iveeding  out" 

In  returning  to  the  grain  thieves  we  will  briefly  state : 
Of  the  citizens  arrested  in  this  way  and  confined  in  the  post 
guard-house  at  Fort  Lincoln,  were  two  men  who,  not  pleased 
with  the  military  attentions  paid  them,  resolved  no  longer 
to  trespass  on  the  willing  hospitality  of  the  7th  Cavalry,  and 
one  night,  with  the  connivance  of  the  soldiers  implicated 
with  them,  a  hole  was  cut  in  the  outside  wall  of  the  guard- 
house ;  thus  they  obtained  their  liberty,  and  afterward,  out- 
side the  limits  of  the  reservation,  defied  arrest. 

The  escape  of  these  parties  was  of  small  moment  in  itself 
— but,  at  the  same  time  and  through  the  same  aperture, 
there  escaped  an  inmate  of  the  guard-house — an  Indian  held 


THE   HOST1LES.  37 

prisoner  by  Ouster — who,  afterward,  in  the  valley  of  the 
Little  Big  Horn,  killed  his  distinguished  jailer,  and  who, 
now  going  directly  from  the  Lincoln  guard-house  to  |he 
hostile  camp,  devoted  his  time  thereafter  to  persuading 
peaceful  bands  of  Agency  Indians  to  join  them,  and  to  per- 
fecting his  plans  of  future  vengeance.  This  was  Rain-in-the- 
Face,  the  most  treacherous  and  bloody-minded  of  the  Unc- 
papa  hostiles,  yet  who  so  far  had  disguised  his  hatred  to  the 
white  men,  as  to  be  duly  enrolled  upon  the  books  of  the 
Agent  (at  Standing  Rock)  as  a  good  Indian,  and  as  such  was 
entitled  to  a  share  in  the  regular  issues  of  provisions,  blankets 
and  ammunition.  But,  like  the  majority  of  these  peaceful 
warriors,  Rain-in-the-Face  was  a  good  Indian  only  during  the 
winter  season,  and  pending  the  spring  issuance  of  rations 
and  clothing.  Thereafter  he  was  wont  to  depart  on  the  war- 
path with  parties  of  the  able-bodied  warriors  of  the  tribe, 
leaving  their  women  and  children  under  the  protecting  care 
of  the  Agency  until  the  waning  of  the  summer,  when  cold 
weather  and  the  approach  of  another  ration  period  would 
draw  them  back  to  the  Agency.  Here,  at  the  rejoicings  con- 
sequent upon  the  issuance  of  rations,  it  was  their  wont  to 
boast  of  their  bloody  deeds,  and  exhibit  the  scalps  and  tro- 
phies torn  from  the  helpless  victims  they  had  slaughtered 
with  the  repeating  rifles  obligingly  furnished  them  by  the 
United  States  Government. 

This  is  literal  truth.  Rain-in-the-Face,  an  Indian  of  the 
Uncpapa  tribe,  and  an  attache  of  Standing  Rock  Agency — 
hence,  presumably  at  peace  with  the  white  men — had  assist- 
ed at  the  killing  of  Dr.  Houtzinger  and  Mr.  Baliran,  the 
civilians  murdered  on  the  march  with  the  expedition  of  1873, 
already  referred  to  in  these  pages. 

In  the  winter  of  1875  the  Standing  Rock  Agency  Indians 
were  holding  their  usual  dance  on  an  occasion  of  drawing 
their  stated  rations.  Among  them,  as  usual,  was  Rain-in- 
the-Face,  with  his  fellow-murderers,  all  pensioners  upon  the 
bounty  of  a  weakly,  magnanimous  Government. 

In  the  course  of  their  pantomimic  dance  there  was  told,  in 
the  plainest  of  Indian  sign  language,  the  bloody  tale  of  the 
murder  of  two  unarmed  white  men  in  the  valley  of  the  Yel- 


38  SUBJUGATING 

lowstone.  Exultingly  in  the  gyrations  of  his  war-dance  the 
Indian  boasted  of  his  prowess,  and,  in  proof  thereof,  exhib- 
ited articles  that  he  had  taken  from  the  lifeless  body  of  Dr. 
Houtzinger.  In  the  little  crowd  of  white  spectators  near  at 
hand — agency  employes,  hangers-on  of  the  military  post, 
etc. — stood  Charles  Reynolds,  a  scout  attached  to  the  7th 
Cavalry,  well  and  favorably  known  on  the  frontier  as  "  Lone- 
some Charley,"  a  brave-hearted,  dauntless,  quiet  man,  and 
who  afterward  was  killed  in  Reno's  rout  at  the  Little  Big 
Horn  battle.  Returning  to  his  post  at  Fort  Lincoln,  Rey- 
nolds reported  to  Custer  what  he  had  seen  and  heard.  A 
detachment  of  one  hundred  men  and  four  officers  were  at 
once  dispatched  from  Lincoln  to  Standing  Rock  Agency, 
seventy  miles  distant,  to  arrest  the  murderer.  Arrived  at 
the  Agency,  they  found  the  Indians  engaged  in  their  usual 
occupation  of  drawing  rations — it  being  the  day  for  the  is- 
suance of  beef.  Hundreds  of  fully-armed  warriors,  mingled 
with  the  non-combatants  of  the  tribe,  were  greedily  await- 
ing their  share  of  the  bountiful  supply  of  food  which  a  mis- 
taken Government  deems  essential  to  prolong  the  precious 
lives  of  its  privileged  assassins  and  incendiaries,  yet  whom, 
as  we  have  already  seen,  it  does  not  itself  disdain  to  rob  of 
their  unceded  lands,  when  measures  of  public  policy  dictate 
the  violation  of  its  treaty  stipulations. 

Notwithstanding  great  excitement  on  the  part  of  the  as- 
sembled braves,  the  arrest  was  effected  in  safety,  and  Rain- 
in-the-Face  was  conveyed,  under  escort  of  Captain  T.  W. 
Custer  —  brother  of  Lieutenant-Colonel  Custer  —  to  Fort 
Lincoln.  Here  he  fully  confessed  his  crime,  and  remained 
a  prisoner  in  the  guard-house  at  Lincoln  until  the  incarcer- 
ation of  the  suspected  grain  thieves  and  their  escape  gave 
him  his  liberty. 

Rain-in-the-Face  went  directly  to  the  hostile  camp,  and 
attaching  himself  to  the  band  of  Sitting  Bull,  was  joined  by 
his  followers,  and  sent  frequent  messages  by  the  Agency  In- 
dians— who  paid  them  frequent  visits  of  friendship  and  busi- 
ness— that  he  was  ardently  awaiting  an  opportunity  to  be 
revenged  on  Lieutenant-Colonel  Custer  and  Captain  Custer, 
for  his  imprisonment. 


THE   HOSTILES.  39 

In  the  spring  of  1876  it  was  determined  by  the  Govern- 
ment to  attempt  the  subjugation  of  Sitting  Bull  and  the  law- 
less tribes  under  him,  who  had  refused  to  accede  to  the  pro- 
visions of  the  treaty  of  1868,  and  had  since  led  a  wandering 
life.  Their  numbers  augmented  each  spring  by  frequent 
accessions  of  warriors,  and  supplies  of  war  from  the  Mis- 
souri Kiver  Agencies.  From  their  stronghold  at  the  head- 
waters of  the  Yellowstone,  war  parties  were  continually  sent 
out  to  annoy  the  white  settlements. 

Their  camp  formed  a  convenient  retreat  for  disaffected 
Agency  Indians.  Criminals  and  unruly  spirits,  supported 
by  the  Government  through  the  winter,  were  ready  in  the 
summer  to  join  the  hostiles,  conveying  to  them  arms,  ammu- 
nition, ponies  and  supplies.  Thus  the  problem  of  dealing 
with  the  professedly  peaceful  Indians  was  greatly  compli- 
cated. 

The  only  way  to  end  the  constantly-recurring  troubles, 
and  prevent  a  general  uprising  of  the  whole  body  of  Indians 
— many  of  them  already  on  the  war-path,  resentful  at  the 
violation  of  the  treaty  of  1868 — was  to  strike  a  decisive  blow 
directly  at  the  headquarters  of  the  savage  tribes,  and  by 
breaking  up  their  rendezvous  in  the  Yellowstone  region, 
compel  them  to  return  and  surrender  at  the  various  Agen- 
cies on  the  Missouri  -River. 

With  this  object  in  view,  the  expedition  of  1876  was  plan- 
ned. It  was  arranged  that  three  expeditions  should  start 
simultaneously  for  the  headwaters  of  the  Yellowstone — one 
from  the  north,  one  from  the  south,  and  one  from  the  east — 
the  three  to  join  forces  and  co-operate  in  the  region  consti- 
tuting the  objective  point  of  their  converging  inarches. 

The  column  from  the  south,  under  General  Crook,  started 
from  Fort  Fetterman,  Wyoming  Territory,  May  29th,  1876, 
and  marched  due  north  for  the  Powder  River  country.  It 
was  composed  of  1,300  men,  and  arrived  at  old  Fort  Reno 
June  3d.  It  succeeded  in  reaching  the  indicated  ground, 
viz.,  the  valley  of  the  Yellowstone,  drained  by  its  tributa- 
ries, the  Big  Horn,  Rosebud,  Tongue  and  Powder  Rivers, 
together  with  their  branches,  and  at  one  time  was  within 
one  hundred  miles  of  the  northern  column ;  but  the  Indians 


40  SUBJUGATING 

were  between  them,  and  after  several  heavy  skirmishes,  in 
which  the  troops  were  defeated,  it  fell  back  to  the  head  of 
Tongue  River,  and  from  there  returned  ingloriously  to  its 
starting  place. 

The  force  from  the  north,  under  Colonel  Gibbon,  left  Fort 
Ellis,  Montana,  with  a  strength  of  four  hundred  men,  and 
wagon  train,  marched  due  east,  and  joined  the  force  from  the 
east  under  General  Terry,  June  1st. 

The  departure  of  the  column  from  the  east,  which,  in  the 
original  plan  of  the  campaign,  was  to  have  been  led  by  Lieu- 
tenant-Colonel Custer,  had  been  delayed,  in  consequence  of 
Custer  having  been  called  to  Washington  to  give  evidence 
before  the  Congressional  Committee  then  engaged  in  invest- 
igating charges  against  Secretary  of  War  Belknap.  Like  all 
army  officers  stationed  on  the  frontier,  Custer  was  convers- 
ant with  the  terrible  corruption  of  the  Interior  Department, 
displayed  in  the  management  of  the  Indian  Agencies  and 
trading  posts.  As  an  honest  man,  he  did  what  many  others, 
better  informed  than  himself,  but  more  devoted  to  self- 
interest,  had  not  dared  to  do — spoke  aloud  his  convictions. 
Custer's  testimony — and  the  fact  that  he  had  presumed  to 
hold  opinions  on  the  subject — was  distasteful  to  Belknap's 
friend,  U.  S.  Grant,  President  of  the  United  States,  and 
brother  of  Orville  Grant,  a  post-trader  of  precious  memory 
on  the  Missouri  River. 


CHAPTER  III. 

Origin  of  the  Breach  between  Belknap  and  Custer. 

Inasmuch  as  there  are  but  very  few  people  in  the  country, 
even  among  those  holding  official  positions  in  the  army,  and 
in  military  circles  outside,  comprehe  nd  f  lly  the  causes  that 
led  the  Belknap  tradership  business  to  such  a  sudden 
"  burst  of  the  -bubble,"  the  author  thinks  it  proper,  in  con- 
nection with  the  foregoing  history,  to  state  here  fully  the 
facts  as  they  came  under  his  observation  at  the  time  of  their 
occurrence.  Several  months  before  the  high  court  of  im- 
peachment was  ordered  to  investigate  the  tradership  business 


THE   HOSTILES.  41 

of  Secretary  of  War  Belknap,  there  was,  in  one  of  the  regi- 
ments belonging  to  the  United  States  Army,  a  young  officer 
who  was  placed  under  arrest  in  consequence  of  charges  pre- 
ferred against  him.  He  was  tried  by  court-martial,  and  by 
a  preponderance  of  evidence  against  him,  and  an  unfortunate 
combination  of  circumstances,  was  found  guilty  and  sen- 
tenced to  dismissal  from  the  service  of  the  United  States. 
It  was,  however,  generally  considered  among  those  conversant 
with  the  affair,  that  the  charges  originally  preferred  against 
him  were  frivolous,  and  were  created  and  brought  against 
him  more  from  personal  malice  than  from  any  zeal  for  the 
service  on  the  part  of  his  accusers.  Through  the  regular 
military  channels,  the  findings  and  sentence  of  the  court- 
martial  reached  Secretary  Belknap  for  his  approval  or  dis- 
approval. It  was  thought  in  army  circles  that  the  Secretary 
should  have  shown  some  leniency,  and  been  governed  by  the 
precedents  on  record  at  the  War  Office  in  similar  cases,  at 
the  time.  A  commutation  of  the  sentence  to  suspension 
from  rank  and  half  pay  for  six  or  twelve  months  was  con- 
fidently expected  by  the  friends  of  the  aforesaid  delinquent 
officer,  and  would  have  been  considered  a  reasonable  pun- 
ishment for  the  offense  charged.  Contrary  to  popular  ex- 
pectation, the  sentence  of  the  court  was  promptly  confirmed 
by  the  Secretary  of  War,  and  the  young  officer  left  the  ser- 
vice of  the  United  States  army  in  disgrace,  but  only  to 
return  in  due  time.  He,  however,  immediately  set  himself 
to  work  to  procure  his  reinstatement  by  a  special  act  of  Con- 
gress ;  but  the  approval  of  the  findings  and  sentence  of  the 
court-martial  by  Secretary  Belknap,  of  course,  made  a  very 
strong  case  against  him.  In  the  meantime,  the  young  officer, 
who,  while  in  the  service,  had  excellent  opportunities  to 
observe  the  manner  in  which  the  tradership  traffic  was  car- 
ried on  under  the  Belknap  rule,  set  himself  to  work  collecting 
facts  and  evidence  concerning  the  same,  and  by  means  of 
these,  prevailed  upon  his  friends  in  Congress  to  bring  the 
matter  before  the  proper  committee.  This  was  done,  and 
the  result  was  a  high  court  of  impeachment.  The  Secretary 
of  War  was  arraigned  at  the  bar  of  the  U.  S.  Senate  to 
answer  the  grave  charges  preferred  against  him,  and  only 


42  SUBJUGATING 

escaped  the  righteous  verdict  of  an  indignant  nation  by  a 
hasty  resignation,  and  as  hasty  an  acceptance  of  the  same  by 
President  Grant,  of  his  high  office.  We  may  add  in  this 
connection,  that  the  young  officer  who  first  set  in  motion 
the  much  needed  investigation,  was  afterward  reinstated  to 
his  place  in  the  army,  and  assumed  his  former  rank  in  the 
service. 

Another  matter  upon  which  the  people  of  the  country, 
even  those  of  high  standing,  both  in  civil  and  military  life, 
are  not  enlightened,  is  the  causes  that  led  to  the  ill-feeling 
existing  between  Grant  and  Belknap  on  the  one  side  against 
General  G.  A.  Ouster  on  the  other.  It  was  previously  a 
matter  of  record,  and  known  all  over  the  country,  that 
Grant,  Sherman  and  Sheridan  were  not  only  intimate  friends 
and  admirers  of  General  Ouster,  but  that  they  placed  un- 
limited confidence  in  his  fighting  abilities  and  military  skill. 

Indeed,  Ouster  was  acknowledged  to  be  the  best  Indian 
fighter  on  the  plains,  by  both  Generals  Sherman  and  Sheri- 
dan ;  and  on  the  13th  of  August,  1869,  at  Fort  Hays,  Kan- 
sas, Brevet-Major-General  S.  D.  Sturgis,  Colonel  7th  U.  S. 
Cavalry,  says,  in  an  official  communication  to  headquarters : 
"  There  is,  perhaps,  no  other  officer  of  equal  rank  on  this 
line,  who  has  worked  more  faithfully  against  the  Indians,  or 
who  has  acquired  the  same  degree  of  knowledge  of  the  coun- 
try and  of  the  Indian  character." 

Department  commanders  also  paid  high  tribute  to  him  as 
an  Indian  fighter  and  an  officer  of  indomitable  energy  and 
skill  in  general  military  matters ;  while  General  Sheridan 
remarked  at  one  time  in  the  field,  while  Custer  was,  with  a 
portion  of  his  regiment,  engaged  with  a  band  of  wild  war- 
riors of  the  plains  :  "  When  Lrwant  anything  done  up  quick, 
I  can  send  Custer  to  do  it,  and  can  almost  invariably  rely 
upon  the  result."  Such  a  remark  from  the  Lieut.-General 
of  the  Army  shows  that  the  utmost  confidence  was  placed 
in  Custer,  aside  from  the  fact  that  he  was  frequently  placed 
in  command  of  the  most  important  expeditions  against  the 
hostile  Indians. 

Now,  in  the  name  of  a  just  Heaven,  the  author  begs  leave 
to  ask  of  the  highest  military  tribunal  in  the  land,  what  had 


THE    HOSTILES.  43 

General  George  A.  Ouster  done  during  the  interval  between 
the  above  date  and  the  time  of  his  fitting  out  his  last  expe- 
dition for  that  fatal  march  to  the  valley  of  the  Little  Big 
Horn,  to  warrant  the  harsh  and  humiliating  treatment  then 
bestowed  upon  him  by  President  Grant  and  Secretary  of 
War  Belknap?  The  voice  of  the  country  speaks  to-day, 
and  says  that  Ouster,  the  true  soldier  and  gentleman,  had 
forfeited  not  one  iota  of  his  well-earned  fame  or  knightly 
standing;  while  Secretary  Belknap,  whose  high  position  had 
already  been  degraded  by  the  illegal  sale  of  traderships,  was 
still  further  prostituting  his  honorable  office  to  gratify  a 
personal  ill-feeling  against  a  gallant  officer,  who  was  the 
beau  ideal  of  a  soldier,  the  pride  of  the  American  cavalry. 
The  author  proposes  to  here  explain  briefly  the  occurrences 
that  transpired  to  mar  the  friendly  relations  heretofore  ex- 
isting between  Grant  and  Belknap  on  one  side,  and  Ouster 
on  the  other.  During  the  year  1870,  in  the  latter  part  of 
June,  and  at  the  closing  of  Congress,  a  certain  law  concern- 
ing post  traders  was  very  ingeniously  framed,  and  embodied 
in  what  was  known  as  the  Military  Bill,  then  pending  before 
Congress,  the  substance  of  which  is  about  as  follows  :  "  And 
the  Secretary  of  War  shall  have  power  to  appoint  one  or 
more  traders  at  the  military  posts  on  the  frontier,  for  the 
accommodation  of  freighters  and  emigrants."  The  reader 
will  readily  observe  the  ingenuity  displayed  in  framing  the 
above  clause,  and  when  the  bill  was  printed  and  placed  before 
the  unsuspecting  and  unsophisticated  members  of  Congress, 
most  of  whom  had  never  been  west  of  the  one  hundredth 
longitudinal  line,  its  deep  design  escaped  detection.  The 
Congressmen  felt,  doubtless,  that  they  were  allying  them- 
selves to  a  liberal  act,  and  making  special  provision  for  the 
wants  of  the  freighters  and  emigrants,  who  are,  after  the 
army,  the  real  pioneers  of  the  far  W^est.  Little  did  these 
unsophisticated  Congressmen  think  that  in  passing  this 
seemingly  beneficial  act,  they  were  making  the  Secretary  of 
War  the  supreme  judge  and  ruler  over  every  post  trader  in 
the  western  country,  and  that  he  would  with  one  stroke  of 
the  pen,  in  one  sweeping  order,  turn  them  all  adrift,  regard- 
less of  their  fitness  or  unfitness  for  the  position,  or  the  fact 


44  SUBJUGATING 

that  they  held  their  positions  by  the  recommendation  and 
with  the  consent  of  the  Post  Council  and  Post  Commandant 
of  the  military  stations  where  they  were  located.  Under 
former  regulations,  as  now,  post  traders  were  appointed  by 
a  council  of  the  officers  of  the  post,  with  the  approval  of  the 
Post  Commandant ;  Belknap  made  all  subsequent  appoint- 
ments to  suit  himself,  regardless  of  the  wishes  of  the  officers 
on  duty  at  the  post  where  the  trader  was  to  be  located. 

This  unprecedented  way  of  making  appointments  by  one 
of  the  highest  officials  of  the  nation,  was  not  confined  in  its 
discourtesy  to  the  officers  of  the  military  posts  in  the  West, 
but  extended  to  Generals  Sherman  and  Sheridan,  and  the 
department  commanders  as  well.  When  an  appointment 
was  given  to  a  post  trader  under  the  new  regime,  it  was  not, 
as  before,  forwarded  through  the  regular  military  channels, 
but  was  sent  at  once  direct  to  the  commanding  officer  of  the 
post  where  the  trader  was  to  locate,  ignoring  thereby  the 
General  and  Lieutenant-General  of  the  army,  as  well  as  the 
department  commanders.  Such  open,  bold,  and  high- 
handed discourtesy  shown  toward  the  general  officers  of  the 
army,  whose  career  was  recorded  as  good  in  the  minds  of 
the  American  people,  and  who  were  known  to  be  eminently 
conscientious  and  successful  in  the  management  of  army 
matters  under  their  control,  and  whose  honor  and  fidel- 
ity to  duty  could  not  be  questioned,  of  course  had  a  demor- 
alizing effect,  and  naturally  caused  a  feeling  of  great  dis- 
trust throughout  the  army  toward  this  high  official  of  the 
nation — Secretary  Belknap.  Even  the  rank  and  file  of  the 
army  shared  the  feeling  of  discontent. 

The  private  soldiers,  when  in  their  own  club-room,  known 
as  "  the  soldiers'  club-room,"  would  at  times  say  :  "  Well, 
boys,  let's  drink  to  '  old  Bel ;'  he  is  not  only  Secretary  of 
War,  and  the  Supreme  Boss  over  all  of  us,  but  the  old  coon 
is  running  the  sutler  stores  too  !" 

At  one  of  the  posts,  where  Custer  was  placed  in  command, 
on  the  frontier,  the  post  trader  was  one  of  the  Belknap  ap- 
pointees, and  after  some  months  had  passed,  Custer,  who  was 
a  very  close-observing  officer,  and  knew  no  other  way  than 
to  do  his  duty  faithfully,  reported  to  the  Secretary  of  War 


THE    HOSTILES.  45 

that  the  trader  in  question  was  a  man  of  intemperate  and 
profligate  habits,  which  fact  had  a  demoralizing  tendency 
among  the  young  officers  and  private  soldiers  of  the  gar- 
rison. 

The  Secretary  could  not  overlook  nor  pigeon-hole  a  com- 
munication of  this  nature  and  importance.  The  one  thing 
he  could  not  avoid  doing  to  preserve  outwardly  the  dignity 
and  honor  of  his  office,  and  that  was  to  remove  the  trader. 
Ouster  had  himself  a  record  and  influence  that  the  War  Of- 
fice could  not  ignore,  and  with  Ouster's  letter  of  information 
on  record,  the  efforts  of  the  venerable  Simon  Cameron,  and 
the  most  influential  men  in  Congress,  were  powerless  to 
save  the  profligate  trader  whom  he  had  denounced.  He  was 
removed  and  another  trader  was  appointed  to  the  post. 

Custer  had  no  preference  in  the  matter  of  the  post  trader- 
ships,  knowing  he  was  likely  to  be  ordered  from  one  mili- 
tary post  to  another  at  any  time  ;  but  for  the  sake  of  the 
younger  officers  of  the  regiment,*  one  of  them  his  own 
brother,  he  desired  that  the  example  and  opportunities  of 
intemperance  should  not  be  furnished  them  in  the  store  of 
the  post  trader. 

Again  months  rolled  on.  Custer  was  engaged  in  making 
a  private  investigation  in  regard  to  some  grain  stolen  from 
the  Government  warehouses.  Before  the  end  of  his  investi- 
gations was  reached,  a  portion  of  the  stolen  grain  was  dis- 
covered in  the  warehouse  of  the  post  trader.  Suffice  this 
matter  to  rest  here,  by  saying  that  Custer  ordered  the  unfor- 
tunate trader  off  the  reservation,  on  pain  of  arrest,  which 
order  was,  of  course,  obeyed  ;  the  trader  leaving  his  partner 
to  settle  the  business,  and  he  never  returned  to  that  reser- 
vation while  Custer  was  in  command.  Here  it  was  that 
Custer  showed  a  degree  of  leniency  and  warm-heartedness 
of  which  few  people  are  aware  ;  and  yet  these  were  his  char- 
acteristic qualities.  He  could  have  pursued  the  trader  with 
criminal  proceedings,  had  he  so  chosen.  But  he  preferred 
to  leave  that  duty  to  others,  knowing  that  he  had  done  his 
in  ordering  the  trader  off  the  military  reservation,  and 
feeling  that  humane  considerations  were  not  beneath  the 
thoughts  of  any  man,  however  great  or  powerful. 


46  SUBJUGATING 

The  reader  will  now  readily  perceive  that  in  both  cases 
against  the  traders,  Custer  had  simply  clone  his  duty  as  an 
officer  and  a  soldier,  as  his  obligations  to  the  service  de- 
manded that  he  should  do.  No  other  course,  in  honor,  was 
open  to  him  ;  his  duty  unquestionably  requiring  him  to  per- 
form it  fearlessly,  no  matter  what  trouble  or  disappointment 
it  might  entail  upon  Secretary  Belknap,  who,  in  an  unpre- 
cedented manner,  had  taken  the  tradership  appointments  in 
his  own  hands,  and  who  was  not  the  man  to  brook  with  equa- 
nimity the  enforced  displacement  of  two  of  his  favorite  post 
traders.  Ten  companies  of  troops  usually  wintered  at  this 
post,  and  the  profits  arising  from  the  tradership  business 
were  not  less  than  $15,000  or  $20,000  per  year.  Hence  arose 
the  breach  between  the  avaricious  Belknap  and  the  gallant, 
close-observing  Custer,  and  it  soon  grew  into  a  wide  one. 
Custer  was  called  to  Washington  by  a  Congressional  Com- 
mittee to  testify  in  regard  to  the  post  tradership  business. 
He  exhausted  all  honorable  means  to  avoid  the  summons  of 
the  Committee,  but  was  compelled  to  obey  their  mandate. 
Custer's  testimony,  or  rather  the  fact  that  he  was  called 
upon  by  the  Committee,  as  probably  conversant  with  the 
sales  of  post  traderships,  excited  the  ire  of  Belknap,  and 
here  it  was  that  President  Grant  arrayed  himself  by  the  side 
of  Belknap  against  Custer.  Belknap  was  a  warm  personal 
friend  of  the  President's,  and  of  his  brother,  Orville  Grant, 
who  will  long  live  in  the  history  of  the  Missouri  River  coun- 
try as  a  successful  speculator  in  the  sale  of  frontier  post 
traderships.  Belknap  was,  moreover,  a  member  of  his  cab- 
inet, and  Grant  must  needs  sustain  him — even  had  the  fam- 
ily reputation  not  been  involved  through  the  speculative 
Orville. 

The  Belknap  impeachment  trial,  although  the  criminal 
escaped  deserved  punishment  by  a  precipitate  resignation 
of  his  office,  has  no  doubt  had  a  great  moral  effect  upon  the 
different  departments  of  the  Government.  Belknap  now 
stands  before  the  American  people — not  one  of  the  leading- 
officials  of  the  country — not  the  honorable  and  dignified 
Secretary  of  War  he  once  appeared  to  be — but  in  the  eyes 
of  those  who  watched  his  career,  he  stands  a  disgraced  man, 


THE   HOSTILES.  47 

with  "  none  so  poor  to  do  him  reverence."  He  has  lost  not 
simply  office  and  position,  but  character,  reputation  and  the 
respect  of  the  American  people,  who  would  have  been  glad 
to  have  held  him  in  their  highest  esteem  until  this  day,  had 
he  deported  himself  with  honor. 

Let  his  example  serve  to  deter  the  future  high  officials 
of  the  land  from  deviating  from  the  path  of  strict  rectitude. 
The  homely  old  motto,  "  Honesty  is  the  best  policy,"  is  as 
well  worthy  the  consideration  of  a  politician  and  office-holder 
as  of  that  of  the  average  citizen. 


CHAPTEE   IV. 

Glister  Displaced  from  the  Command  of  the  Eastern  Column,  at 

Fort  Lincoln. 

Ouster  was  displaced  from  the  command  of  the  eastern 
column,  then  in  process  of  organization,  at  Fort  Lincoln, 
and  forbidden,  by  order  of  the  President,  to  accompany  the 
troops  on  the  march.  General  Terry  was  placed  in  com- 
mand of  the  expedition,  but  afterward,  in  response  to  the 
earnest  entreaties  of  Ouster  to  be  spared  the  humiliation  of 
seeing  the  troops  march  without  him,  the  President's  order 
was  so  far  modified  as  to  permit  him  to  go  with  the  expedi- 
tion, in  command  of  the  7th  Cavalry.  Thus  reorganized, 
the  column  left  Fort  Lincoln  with  12  companies  of  the 
7th  Cavalry,  under  Lieutenant-Colonel  Ouster,  3  com- 
panies of  the  6th  and  17th  Infantry,  4  Gatling  guns,  and 
a  detachment  of  45  Indian  scouts,  under  the  Arickiree 
chief,  Bloody  Knife.  The  wagon  train  consisted  of  114 
six-mule  teams,  37  two-horse  teams,  70  other  vehicles, 
ambulances,  etc.,  with  85  pack-mule  and  179  civilian  drivers 
— a  total  force  of  2,700  armed  men — seeking  the  Sioux,  and 
divided  into  three  columns  of  1,300,  400,  and  1,000  respect- 
ively. These  three  columns  started  from  the  circumference 
of  a  circle  with  a  radius  of  three  hundred  miles,  under 
orders  to  concentrate  and  join  their  converging  lines  some- 
where in  the  region  enclosed  by  the  Big  Horn  and  Powder 
Rivers — where  the  enemy  was  supposed  to  be  in  force — there 


48  SUBJUGATING 

to  enclose  and  crush  out  the  desperate  remnants  of  savage 
outlaws,  their  number  being  variously  estimated  at  from 
1,000  to  3,000.  Later  events  proved  the  fallacy  of  this  be- 
lief ;  that  between  3,000  and  5,000  Indians  were  massed 
in  the  fatal  valley  of  the  Yellowstone,  awaiting  in  savage 
ferocity  the  coming  of  the  troops,  all  of  whom  they  could 
easily  have  annihilated  with  their  superior  arms  and  steeds, 
had  the  remainder  of  them  come  within  their  lines. 

Who  that  lived  in  Bismarck  in  the  year  1876,  during  the 
time  that  the  "  Lincoln  column  "  of  the  great  expedition  was 
being  fitted  out  across  the  river,  will  forget  that  it  was 
matter  of  public  notoriety  that  the  savage  hordes  were 
gathering  their  clans  from  north  and  from  south,  to  dispute 
the  passage  of  the  soldiers  ;  that  even  while  their  godly  agents 
were  crying  aloud,  "All  is  well,"  the  Red  Cloud,  Standing 
Bock  and  Spotted  Tail  agencies  were  being  depopulated  of 
their  fighting  material.  Supply  trains,  with  men,  arms, 
ponies,  provisions,  ammunition  and  warriors,  were  rushing 
to  that  wild  rendezvous  on  the  Yellowstone,  where  the  rest- 
less Sitting  Bull  awaited  the  tardy  coming  of  the  royal  sacri- 
fice. Each  new  accession  to  their  ranks  was  hailed  with 
acclamations  of  delight,  and  in  the  weird  gyrations  of  the 
war-dance  the  blood-stained  wretches  recounted  their  gory 
deeds,  and  sought  to  stimulate  each  other  to  horrid  acts  of 
brutality  and  bloodshed.  Who  that  heard  them  can  forget 
those  significant  inquiries  heard  in  the  streets  of  Bismarck, 
by  emissaries  fresh  from  Sitting  Bull's  camp,  during  the 
sad  days  of  Ouster's  humiliation  under  presidential  dis- 
pleasure, when  the  men  waited  in  arms  for  the  order  to 
march,  and  their  brave,  outspoken  commander  chafed  in 
bitterness  of  spirit  under  the  undeserved  disgrace  of  being 
ordered  to  stay  behind.  "  What  are  the  dog-soldiers  waiting 
for?"  "Are  they  tired  before  they  start?"  "\\hat  is  the 
matter  with  Ouster?"  "Is  the  long-haired  chief  sick?" 
All  these  and  more,  coupled  with  direful  threats  and  sick- 
ening messages  of  expectant  revenge,  from  Rain-in- the-Face 
and  his  no  less  bloody  followers,  were  repeated  from  mouth 
to  mouth,  and  excited  in  many  hearts  sad  feelings  of  fore- 
boding relative  to  the  fate  of  the  gallant  Ouster,  who  in  go- 


THE   HOST1LES.  49 

ing  forth  to  .give  battle  to  the  merciless  chieftain  of  the  Sioux, 
left  behind  him,  in  the  person  of  IT.  S.  Grant,  the  chief  ex- 
ecutive of  the  land,  a  foe  no  less  relentless. 

On  June  21st  Gibbon's  column  was  sent  from  Terry's 
camp  on  the  Yellowstone,  at  the  mouth  of  Tongue  River,  to 
the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  River,  where,  after  being  ferried 
across  by  the  supply  steamer  "  Far  West,"  that  had  followed 
by  river  from  Fort  Lincoln,  it  was  directed  to  proceed  to 
the  forks  of  the  Little  and  Big  Horn,  its  future  movements 
to  be  controlled  by  circumstances  as  they  should  arise,  but 
with  the  hope  expressed  by  General  Terry  that  the  Indians 
in  the  Little  Big  Horn  region  should  be  enclosed  by  Gib- 
bon's column,  in  co-operation  with  the  7th  Cavalry,  under 
Ouster,  who  left  Terry's  camp  on  the  Yellowstone  and 
Tongue  Rivers  on  the  afternoon  of  June  22d,  in  pursuit  of  a 
large  body  of  Indians,  whose  trail,  proceeding  up  the  Rose- 
bud River,  had  been  discovered  a  few  days  previously  in  a 
scouting  expedition  by  Major  Reno,  of  the  7th  Cavalry. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Ouster  was  not  hampered  by  positive 
orders,  being  simply  advised  to  follow  the  Indian  trail  until 
its  general  direction  was  definitely  ascertained.  Then,  if, 
as  was  expected,  it  should  be  found  to  turn  toward  the 
Little  Big  Horn,  he  was  directed  to  proceed  southward  as 
far  as  the  headwaters  of  the  Tongue,  and  then  to  turn  to- 
ward the  Little  Big  Horn,  guarding  constantly  against  the 
possibility  of  the  Indians  escaping  around  his  left  flank  to 
the  south  and  rear,  General  Terry  distinctly  stating  that 
"  such  was  his  confidence  in  the  zeal,  energy  and  ability  of 
Lieutenant-Colonel  Ouster,  that  he  would  not  impose  upon 
him  precise  orders,  which  might  hamper  his  action  when 
nearly  in  contact  with  the  enemy." 


50  SUBJUGATING 

CHAPTEE  V. 

March  to  the  Battle-field. 

Thus,  with  his  future  course  of  action  left  to  his  own  dis- 
cretionary judgment,  Lieut. -Colonel  Ouster,  with  his  regi- 
ment, left  camp  on  the  Yellowstone,  June  22d,  and  proceeded 
up  the  Kosebud  River  during  the  23d  and  24th,  making 
sixty-one  miles,  the  trail  and  Indian  signs  freshening  with 
every  mile,  when  they  encamped  and  waited  for  information 
from  the  scouts,  whose  detachment  had  accompanied  the 
regiment.  It  was  ascertained,  beyond  doubt,  that  the  Indian 
village  was  in  the  valley  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  and,  in 
order  to  reach  it  without  discovering  their  approach  to  the 
Indians,  a  night  march  was  decided  on,  the  troops  moving 
at  11  P.  M.,  the  line  of  march  turning  from  the  Rosebud  to 
the  right,  up  one  of  its  branches.  At  2  P.  M.  of  the  morn- 
ing of  the  25th,  it  was'  ascertained  that  the  divide  between 
the  Rosebud  and  the  Little  Big  Horn  Rivers  could  not  be 
crossed  before  daylight.  The  command  then  rested  for  three 
hours  and  made  coffee,  many  of  the  brave  fellows  then  paj- 
taking  of  their  last  meal  on  earth.  The  march  was  then 
resumed  and  the  divide  crossed,  and  about  8  A.  M.  the 
command  was  in  the  valley  of  one  of  the  branches  of  the 
Little  Big  Horn.  Indians  being  then  plainly  seen,  and  as  it 
was  thus  evident  that  the  troops  could  not  take  them  by 
surprise,  it  was  decided  to  attack  them  at  once. 

On  the  march,  Ouster  had  divided  the  regiment  into  three 
separate  commands,  assigning  to  Major  M.  A.  Reno,  Compa- 
nies M,  A  and  G,  and  to  Captain  Bonteen,  H,  D  and  K, 
retaining  himself  the  command  of  Companies.  0,  E,  F,  I 
and  L  ;  Captain  McDougal  being  assigned  with  Company  B 
to  the  care  of  the  pack  train  in  the  rear. 

Ouster's  plan  of  attack  in  Indian  warfare,  in  which  he  had 
been  hitherto  pre-eminently  successful,  was  that  of  simulta- 
neous assault  from  several  points,  an  attack  in  front  and 
flank  at  all  events.  In  this  instance,  when  arrived  near  the 
battle-field,  and  as  he  prepared  himself  to  lead  the  charge, 


THE   HOSTILES.  51 

about  12.30  P.  M.,  he  ordered  the  remaining  two  divisions 
to^move  up  quickly  and  support  him. 

The  battalion  under  Benteen  with  the  pack  train  did  not 
come  up  in  time  to  participate  in  the  charge  and  opening 
fight. 

The  detachment  under  Major  Eeno,  numbering  145  men, 
hurried  forward  as  ordered,  and  crossed  the  river,  where 
they  soon  became  engaged  with  overwhelming  numbers  of 
the  enemy.  To  save  themselves  from  utter  annihilation  at 
the  hands  of  the  countless  droves  of  Indians,  who  suddenly 
sprang  into  view,  they  retreated  to  a  high  hill  in  the  vicin- 
ity, where  they  entrenched  themselves,  being  soon  after 
joined  by  the  troops  under  Benteen. 

Soon  afterward  they  were  furiously  attacked  and  besieged 
by  numberless  foes  ;  the  siege  being  next  day  renewed,  when 
the  troops  were  relieved  by  the  arrival  of  the  soldiers  under 
General  Terry,  the  Indians  filing  away  across  the  hills  at  his 
approach. 

Up  to  this  date  nothing  was  known  of  the  fate  of  Custer 
and  his  command,  the  soldiers  in  the  entrenchment  on  the 
hill,  who  never  before  had  known  him  to  fail  them  in  dan- 
ger, wondering  audibly  why  he  did  not  come  to  their  relief. 
In  the  retreat  from  the  scene  of  his  engagement  with  the 
Indians  to  the  safety  of  the  hill,  Major  Reno  lost  in  killed  : 
First  Lieutenant  Donald  Mclntosh,  Second  Lieutenant  Ben. 
H.  Hodgeson,  7th  Cavalry,  and  A.  A.  Surgeon  J.  M.  DeWolf, 
together  with  the  famous  scout  Charles  Reynolds,  and  29 
enlisted  men  of  the  regiment  killed  and  7  wounded.  In  the 
later  attack  on  the  hill,  of  the  combined  forces  of  Reno  and 
Benteen — 380  men  in  all,  with  12  officers — there  were  killed 
18  enlisted  men  and  46  wounded. 

Upon  the  arrival  of  General  Terry,  the  first  intimation 
was  obtained  of  the  fate  of  Custer  and  his  men.  An  Upsar- 
oka  scout,  named  Curley,  had  almost  miraculously  escaped 
during  the  progress  of  the  fight  with  Custer,  and  made  his 
way  back  to  General  Terry,  then  on  the  steamer  "  Far  West," 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Big  Horn  River,  and  reported  the  total 
loss  of  Custer  and  his  soldiers. 

This  report  was  disbelieved,  or,  at  least,  thought  to  be 


52  SUBJUGATING 

greatly  exaggerated — it  being  deemed  impossible  that  such 
a  calamity  could  befall  the  most  successful  Indian  fighter  of 
his  day.  Yet,  from  the  extreme  agitation  of  the  forlorn  scout, 
it  was  evident  that  a  misfortune  of  some  kind  had  occurred ; 
and  General  Terry,  with  the  residue  of  the  troops  under 
him,  at  once  pressed  forward,  under  the  leadership  of  Cur- 
ley,  arriving  in  time  to  save  the  lives  of  the  wearied  sur- 
vivors under  Reno ;  who,  though  making  a  gallant  defense 
against  overpowering  numbers  of  the  enemy,  had  lost  all 
hope  of  rescue,  since  Custer  had  apparently  failed  them,  and 
greeted  the  unexpected  arrival  of  their  comrades  as  a  happy 
reprieve  from  expected  death. 

Immediately  upon  the  arrival  of  General  Terry — the  In- 
dians then  having  left — a  detachment  was  sent  out  to  search 
for  traces  of  the  missing  commander  and  his  men.  Not  far 
away  their  battle-field  was  found,  and  though  no  living  thing 
was  there  to  tell  how  grandly  they  had  fought,  and  nobly 
they  had  died,  yet  no  tongue  was  needed  to  show  that  they 
had  all  gone  down,  company  by  company,  contending  to  the 
last  for  life,  as  heroes  ever  do.  Their  dead  and  mutilated 
bodies,  disposed  in  the  orderly  array  of  systematic  battle  ; 
the  compact  companies,  with  officers  in  place  behind  them  ; 
the  unbroken  skirmish  line  of  ghastly  corpses,  testified  more 
eloquently  than  spoken  words  could  do  to  the  sublimity  of 
courage  that  had  animated  each  soul  of  that  heroic  band. 
An  examination  of  the  battle-ground  disclosed  the  fact  that 
when  Custer  left  his  comrades  of  the  other  two  divisions, 
with  orders  for  them  to  hasten  forward  and  join  in  the  at- 
tack, he  dashed  down  the  stream  some  distance,  seeking  a 
convenient  ford  where  he  could  cross  the  river  and  attack 
the  village  from  below ;  but  failing  to  do  so,  went  much  fur- 
ther down  the  river  than  intended  in  his  arrangements 
with  Reno,  whom  he  expected  to  support  in  the  charge  he 
had  ordered  Reno  to  make  before  leaving  him.  When,  at 
length,  a  suitable  ford  was  discovered,  his  further  progress 
was  violently  opposed  by  numberless  Indians,  who  poured 
in  a  heavy  fire  from  across  the  narrow  river.  Custer  dis- 
mounted, to  fight  on  foot,  but  his  skirmishers  were  unable 
to  cross  the  stream  under  the  galling  fire  that  assailed  them 


THE    HOSTILES.  53 

and  the  cavalry  were  speedily  driven  back  to  the  high  ground 
in  the  rear ;  but  not  until  swarms  of  Indians,  mounted  and 
on  foot,  had  poured  over  the  shallow  river,  and  seized  the 
ravines  on  either  side,  effectually  cutting  off  their  retreat  in 
the  direction  in  which  they  came.  Custer  was  soon  effectu- 
ally surrounded,  and  receiving  a  terrible  fire  from  all  sides. 
The  dead  bodies  of  men  and  horses  were  found  at  the  ford, 
and  at  a  distance  of  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the 
river,  as  though  thrown  across  the  line  of  retreat  to  check 
the  advance  of  the  enemy.  The  entire  company  of  Captain 
James  Calhoun,  brother-in-law  of  Lieutenant- Colonel  Cus- 
ter, lay  dead  in  an  irregular  line,  with  Captain  Calhoun  and 
his  Lieutenant,  John  J.  Crittenden,  in  their  proper  places  in 
the  rear.  A  mile  beyond  this,  on  a  ridge  parallel  to  the  river, 
the  whole  of  Captain  Myles  W.  Keogh's  company  were 
slaughtered  in  position  —  their  right  resting  on  the  hill 
where  Custer  fell.  Still  further  back  on  the  ridge  were 
found  the  dead  bodies  of  thirty-two  men  of  Captain  George 
W.  Yates'  company,  and  here,  too,  had  fallen  the  brave  and 
ill-fated  Custer,  with  his  brother,  Captain  T.  "W.  Custer,  his 
Adjutant,  Captain  W.  "W.  Cook,  Lieutenant  "William  Van  W. 
Reily,  and  Captain  Yates,  together  with  the  young  nephew 
and  brother  of  Custer — Armstrong  Reed  and  Boston  Custer, 
forage-master  of  the  7th  Cavalry. 

In  a  ravine  near  the  river  were  found  the  dead  bodies  of 
the  men  and  horses  of  Captain  Thomas  "W.  Custer' s  company, 
together  with  those  of  Captain  Algernon  E.  Smith,  and 
twenty-three  men  of  his  company.  Lieutenant  James  E. 
Porter,  Lieutenant  John  Sturgis,  and  Lieutenant  Harring- 
ton, together  with  thirty-five  enlisted  men,  were  missing,  and 
no  trace  of  them  could  be  discovered.  Near  the  ford,  as 
though  killed  early  in  the  fight,  was  the  body  of  Mark  Kel- 
log,  correspondent  of  the  New  York  Herald,  and  a  resident 
of  the  frontier.  His  body  was  undisturbed  and  still  clothed, 
as  though  overlooked  by  accident  in  the  horrible  carnival  of 
blood  and  butchery  that  followed  hard  upon  the  battle. 
Near  here  was  also  found  the  body  of  "  Isaiah,"  a  colored 
scout,  long  in  the  employ  of  the  officers  on  the  frontier,  an. 
intelligent,  trustworthy  man,  married  to  a  Sioux  squaw,  who, 


54  SUBJUGATING 

with  his  children,  was  then  at  Fort  Bice.  This  circumstance 
did  not  appear  to  be  a  recommendation  to  the  mercy  of  his 
wife's  relatives,  as  he  was  not  only  killed,  but  circumstances 
indicated  that  he  had  been  captured  and  met  his  death  by 
the  savage  cruelty  of  torture. 

The  probable  fate  of  the  thirty-five  missing  men  and  their 
three  officers  is  too  horrible  to  contemplate  without  a  shud- 
der. It  is  claimed  by  Indians  who  were  in  the  fight  and  after- 
wards returned  to  their  agencies,  that  the  horses  of  a  portion 
of  the  calvary  were  captured  by  the  Indians  early  in  the  en- 
gagement, while  the  situation  of  those  surrounding  the 
group  of  men  and  officers,  with  whom  Custer  made  his  last 
stand,  would  seem  to  indicate  that  they  had  been  killed  by 
the  soldiers  to  form  a  barricade,  behind  which  to  defend 
themselves,  until  the  relief  which  they  doubtless  then  ex- 
pected from  Keno  and  Benteen  should  arrive. 

How  vague  and  satisfactory  are  these  pitiful  details  of  this 
most  horrible  of  modern  massacres,  the  exact  occurrences  of 
which  will  probably  never  ba  known  !  The  sole  survivors 
of  all  that  proud  array  of  men  and  steeds,  so  recklessly  hur- 
ried to  their  impending  doom,  are  the  Upsaroka  scout, 
"  Curley,"  and  the  horse  of  Captain  Keogh,  Comanche,  which 
was  found  near  the  battle-field  with  seven  wounds.  Major 
Reno,  thinking  him  mortally  wounded,  ordered  the  noted 
war-horse  to  be  shot;  but  Comaiiche  was  a  veteran  of  the 
7th  Cavalry,  and  the  men  who  knew  and  loved  him,  begged 
for  his  life,  and  by  careful  treatment  and  nursing  lie  was  re- 
stored, and  remains  to-day  the  only  living  survivor  of  the 
fated  five  companies  who  plunged  into  the  carnage  that  en- 
gulfed alike,  rider  and  steed,  in  the  lonely  valley  of  the 
Little  Big  Horn. 

Soon  after  the  discovery  of  the  dead  bodies  on  the  battle- 
field, they  were  given  hasty  burial  by  their  comrades  of  the 
surviving  companies.  Then,  the  Indians  having  escaped, 
and  the  supplies  being  exhausted,  General  Terry  took  up 
the  line  of  march  toward  the  Yellowstone,  and  returned  with 
all  possible  haste  to  his  headquarters  at  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  and 
thus  ended  one  of  the  most  disastrous  and  disgraceful  cam- 
paigns in  the  annals  of  the  country  ;  and  in  the  language  of 


THE   HOSTILES.  55 

'General  Sherman  in  his  annual  official  report  to  the  Secre- 
tary of  War,  who  submitted  the  same  to  the  next  session  of 
Congress  (the  Forty-fourth),  which  convened  in  December, 
1876,  said,  "  And  had  it  not  been  for  the  brave  and  heroic 
Reno,  not  a  man  would  have  been  brought  off  the  field  to 
tell  the  tale  !  " 

In  the  entire  management  of  the  expedition,  from  its  first 
organization  down  to  the  closing  affray,  there  is  but  one  re- 
deeming feature  mingled  with  our  pity  for  the  gallant  boys 
in  blue,  who  there  met  an  untimely  death — the  warmest 
.admiration  for  the  knightly  courage,  to  which  their  lifeless 
bodies,  ranged  in  order  along  the  battle  lines,  bore  dumb  but 
eloquent  witness. 

"  Even  thus  the  sword  of  Ouster, 

In  his  disastrous  fall, 

Flashed  out  a  blaze  that  charmed  the  world, 
And  glorified  his  pall. " 


APPENDIX  TO  THE  PRECEDING  SECTION. 


We  will  here  make  brief  mention  of  the  filling  up  of  the 
rank  and  file  of  the  pet  regiment  on  the  plains,  and  some  of 
its  duties  since  the  Battle  of  the  Little  Big  Horn.  Of  the 
companies  that  were  lost  in  that  memorable  battle,  their 
places  were  at  once  filled  by  officers  who  survived  to  com- 
mand them,  and  were  soon  recruited  to  the  maximum  by 
recruits  sent  forward  from  the  East,  who  were  recruited 
with  a  special  view  to  closing  the  Indian  war  in  the  north- 
west, if  possible.  The  field  officers  of  the  regiment  that  sur- 
vived were  veterans,  and  gallant  and  skillful  men,  who  had 
seen  many  a  hard-fought  battle,  and  had  won  laurels  on 
many  a  field,  and  lived  only  to  take  part  in  further  opera- 
tions to  open  and  pave  the  way  for  civilization. 

They  had  survived  numerous  battles  during  the  war  of 
the  late  rebellion,  and  had  experienced  hard  service  on  our 
extreme  frontier  in  subjugating  the  Indians,  all  the  way  from 
tho  Wichita  mountains  to  the  valley  of  the  Little  Big  Horn, 
where  their  gallant  and  chivalrous  comrade,  Lieutenant- 


56  SUBJUGATING 

Colonel  Ouster,  fell  at  the  head  of  their  dashing  and  fearless, 
troopers.  This  regiment  has  been  on  duty  at  different  mili- 
tary stations — mostly  in  north-western  Dakota — and  gener- 
ally commanded  by  its  Lieutenant-Colonel,  Elmer  Otis,  and 
one  or  more  of  the  Majors  belonging  to  the  regiment. 

Brevet-Colonel  Elmer  Otis,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  7th 
U.  S.  Cavalry,  received  his  appointment  from  the  military 
academy  at  "West  Point  before  the  war,  and  has  been  deserv- 
edly promoted  from  time  to  time  up  to  the  assignment  to 
duty  with  this  regiment.  He  is  an  industrious,  zealous,  and 
faithful  officer.  He  has  been  the  commanding  officer  at  Fort 
Lincoln  a  greater  portion  of  the  time  since  his  assignment 
to  duty  with  the  7th  Cavalry.  He  is  much  admired  as  an 
officer  and  a  gentleman  by  his  command,  and  in  army  cir- 
cles as  well  as  by  the  citizens  in  general. 

Brevet- Colonel  Joseph  E.  Tilford,  the  senior  Major  of  the 
7th  Cavalry,  was  appointed  from  the  military  academy  at 
West  Point  in  1851.  He  has  been  a  brave  and  faithful  offi- 
cer, and  his  conduct  "  was  gallant  and  meritorious  in  the 
battle  of  Valverde,  N.  M."  He  has  been  commanding  offi- 
cer at  various  military  stations  in  north-western  Dakota 
since  his  regiment  came  to  Fort  Bice  in  1873.  He  is  really 
the  model  and  most  gentlemanly  Major  in  the  U.  S.  Army. 
His  record  as  a  military  officer  and  a  gentleman  is  too  well 
known  to  make  mention  at  length  in  this  volume.  Suffice  it 
to  say,  that  he  is  an  excellent  military  adviser,  one  of  the 
best  of  disciplinarians,  always  having  an  eye  to  the  morale 
of  the  army. 

Brevet-Brigadier-General  Lewis  Merrill,  a  Major  in  the  7th 
Cavalry,  has  been  in  the  service  since  July,  1855.  He  re- 
ceived his  appointment  from  the  military  academy  at  West 
Point,  and  served  with  distinction  all  through  the  late  war. 
During  the  rebellion  his  services  were  specially  gallant  and 
meritorious  against  the  rebels  in  north  Missouri,  and  in  the 
capture  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.,  also  against  the  rebel  forces  in 
north-western  Georgia. 

Major  Merrill  was  well  known  through  the  late  war  as  Col- 
onel of  one  of  the  finest  regiments  of  cavalry  in  the  service, 
"  known  as  Merrill's  Horse."  Since  the  war  he  has  filled 


THE   HOSTILES.  5T 

important  military  positions  in  various  parts  of  the  country,, 
at  times  sitting  as  Judge  Advocate  on  court  martials. 

As  a  military  law  officer,  he  has  no  superior  in  this  de- 
partment, and  we  think  we  can  safely  say,  no  equal,  unless  it  be 
General  Alfred  H.  Terry,  the  Department  Commander.  For 
the  past  two  seasons,  he  has  had  charge  of  protecting  the 
line  of  the  Northern  Pacific  Railroad  from  Bismarck,  D.  T., 
to  Miles  City,  M.  T.  The  main  duty  of  his  command  has 
been,  and  now  is,  to  guard  against  roving  bands  of  maraud- 
ing Indians  who  infest  the  plains  more  or  less,  roaming  from 
one  section  of  the  country  to  another,  more  for  the  purpose 
of  stealing  and  running  off  stock,  than  to  engage  in  actual 
warfare.  He  is  a  thoroughly  schooled  and  skilled  officer, 
and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who  know  him. 

Edward  Ball,  another  Major  of  the  "  brave  and  intrepid 
7th,"  joined  his  regiment  in  April,  1880.  His  career  with 
this  regiment  has  been  short,  and  but  very  little  service  in 
the  field  has  been  performed  since  his  assignment  as  one  of 
its  Majors.  He  is  a  brave,  skillful  and  gentlemanly  officer, 
and  well  worthy  the  uniform  he  wears,  having  served  in  the 
regular  army  since  1844.  His  record  for  bravery,  industry 
and  zeal  stands  among  the  first  in  the  country. 

Colonel  Wm.  Thompson,  a  retired  officer  from  the  7th 
Cavalry,  is  a  sturdy  Pennsylvanian,  and  a  true  type  of  the 
American  soldier  and  gentleman.  At  one  time  before  the 
war,  he  was  Professor  of  Law  and  Science  in  an  Institute 
in  his  native  State.  Soon  afterward  he  settled  in  Iowa  and 
represented  the  Keokuk,  or  Southern  district  of  that  State 
in  the  Thirtieth  and  Thirty-first  Congress.  Colonel  Cork- 
hill,  the  District  Attorney  at  Washington,  who  has  charge 
of  investigating  "  Giteau's  case,"  was  at  one  time  a  pupil 
under  this  veteran  officer.  He  served  through  the  late  war 
with  distinction,  receiving  promotion  at  different  times  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  service  on  various  battle-fields,  and 
specially  in  the  action  of  Prairie  Grove .  and  Bayou  Meteo, 
Ark.  He  has  seen  hard  service  in  Indian  warfare  all  the 
way  from  the  Staked  Plains  to  the  headwaters  of  the  Mis- 
souri. He  is  a  genial  gentleman  in  and  out  of  the  army,  and 
devotes  the  greater  portion  of  his  time  to  matters  pertaining 


58  {SUBJUGATING 

to  science,  agriculture,  and  the  general  development  of  the 
new  northwest. 

The  people  throughout  the  States  and  other  countries  can 
now  rest  assured  this  section  of  our  country,  and  more  gener- 
ally known  as  the  new  northwest,  is  in  the  hands  of  experi- 
enced and  well-disposed  officers,  who  have  the  good  of  their 
country  at  heart,  as  well  as  their  own  personal  affairs,  and 
reputation  for  bravery  and  achievements.  There  are  other 
officers  on  the  frontier  deserving  of  equal  credit  as  those 
above  mentioned,  but  having  been  in  fields  at  too  great  a 
distance,  the  writer  does  not  feel  at  liberty  to  make  mention 
of  matters  of  fact  as  they  have  transpired,  that  he  is  not 
quite  familiar  with. 

Now  that  we  have  the  unconditional  surrender  of  Sitting 
Bull  and  all  of  his  war  chiefs,  the  survivors  of  the  7th  Cavalry, 
as  well  as  members  of  the  other  regiments  in  this  depart- 
ment, who  have  for  many  years  defied  the  murderous  hordes 
of  hostile  savages,  and  who  have  fought  as  heroes  fight,  for 
friends  and  home,  country  and  fame,  may  well  take  a  long 
breath  of  great  relief. 

The  writer  is  now  waiting  for  a  special  messenger  to  arrive 
from  Fort  Buford,  in  order  to  get  a  correct  and  full  account 
of  the  surrender  of  "the  king  of  warriors,"  the  wily  Sitting 
Bull,  whose  manceuvering  on  the  Plains,  and  in  and  out  of 
the  bad  lands,  and  whose  aptness  for  Indian  warfare  has 
attracted  more  attention  than  any  other  one  person  in  the 
country,  except  our  suffering  President,  Mr.  Garfield.  We 
will  endeavor  to  present  to  the  readers  of  this  work  a  con- 
cise and  clear  account  of  this  important  move  on  the  part 
of  our  red  brother,  who  for  many  years  has  been  the  Stal- 
wart of  the  Stalwart  Warriors. 


CROW    KING. 

CHIEF     WARRIOR     OF     SITTING     BULL'S     TRIBES, 


THE    HOSTILES.  59 


SECTION    III. 
THE    STJEEENDEE  OF  CEO\V  KING. 


CHAPTEE    I. 

The   Kingly  Warrior  Surrenders  to  Major  D.  H.  Brotlierton. 

One  of  the  most  important  events  in  recent  military  ope- 
rations against  the  hostile  Indians  in  the  Northwest,  was 
the  surrender  of  Crow  King,  a  subordinate  chief  under  Sit- 
ting Bull,  together  with  all  his  warriors,  war  ponies,  guns, 
old  men,  squaws,  papooses  and  camp  equipage,  to  Major  D. 
H.  Brotherton,  of  the  7th  United  States  Infantry,  in  the 
Northwest,  during  the  winter  of  1880. 

Crow  King  was  in  importance  to  Sitting  Bull  among  the 
Sioux  warriors  as  Sheridan  was  to  Grant  in  the  late  War  of 
the  Rebellion.  The  surrender  was  received  with  great  re- 
joicing by  both  officers  and  men  of  the  long-suffering  army 
of  the  frontier,  and  by  the  people  of  the  land  was  hailed 
with  joy,  as  practically  the  close  of  the  Indian  War  in  the 
Northwest. 

Although  popular  rejoicing  in  this  belief  was  premature — 
Sitting  Bull,  with  the  main  body  of  able-bodied  hostiles, 
with  his  usual  good  fortune  or  good  generalship,  having 
eluded  capture  and  escaped  to  the  British  lines — yet  the 
rank  and  importance  of  Crow  King  in  the  Sioux  councils 
was  so  great,  his  influence  with  the  savage  tribes  under 
him  being  almost  unbounded,  that  the  effect  of  his  retiring 
with  his  people  from  the  war-path  was  most  salutary  in  the 
cause  of  peace. 

Among  Indians  of  all  tribes  there  are  invariably  found 
a  number  of  subordinate  chiefs  who  really  desire  to  remain 
on  the  war-path,  and  nothing  save  actual  suffering  or  ne- 
csssity  will  ever  persuade  or  force  them  to  surrender.  The 
presence  of  a  large  force  of  troops  in  front  of  them,  with 


60  SUBJUGATING 

starvation  among  their  old  men,  women  and  children,  are  the 
only  arguments  to  which  their  stern  natures  are  accessible. 

In  the  case  of  Crow  King  and  his  warriors,  they  were 
driven  to  extremities.  In  the  dead  of  a  severe  winter,  with- 
out grass  for  their  ponies,  and  insufficient  shelter  for  their 
families,  with  the  thermometer  32  degrees  below  zero,  there 
was  necessarily  great  suffering  from  cold  and  hunger 
among  the  non-combatants  of  tho  hostile  camp.  Food  and 
clothing  were  almost  unobtainable  in  the  field,  and  with  the 
British  lines  closed  apparently  against  them,  and  a  large 
well-disciplined  force  of  United  States  troops  in  front  of 
them,  with  ample  supplies,  and  everything  necessary  to  the 
carrying  on  of  a  vigorous  and  successful  campaign,  their 
alternative  was  to  surrender  or  to  suffer  total  annihilation. 

Scarcely  less  than  the  Indians  did  the  brave  men  of  the 
army  suffer  from  cold  and  exposure  during  that  fearful  win- 
ter's campaign.  In  the  field  without  tents,  with  the  ther- 
mometer ranging  from  32  to  44  degrees  below  zero,  they 
suffered  intensely  from  cold  and  frost-bites.  Yet,  with  the 
usual  stoicism  and  hardihood  of  the  trained  soldier,  their  suf- 
ferings in  these  respects  were  borne  uncomplainingly,  and 
with  true  heroism. 

The  representatives  of  the  press,  who,  it  must  be  ob- 
served, invariably  reach  the  front  as  soon  as  the  army,  were 
on  hand  to  chronicle  the  details  of  the  surrender,  and  gave 
to  the  representative  papers  of  the  East,  full  and  graphic 
accounts  of  the  scenes  in  the  field,  and  the  solemn  pow-wow 
and  dance  after  the  surrender.  The  people  of  the  country 
are  greatly  interested  in  the  development  of  the  new  North- 
west, and  consequently  follow  the  operations  of  the  troops 
on  the  frontier  with  friendly  interest  and  anxiety  ;  no  news  is 
more  anxiously  sought  after  or  read  with  more  avidity  than 
the  published  reports  from  the  seat  of  the  Indian  wars. 
Being  desirous  of  seeing  the  country  opened  to  settlement, 
all  measures  tending  to  that  end  are  eagerly  seconded  by 
the  people  at  large,  and  this  is  apparent  in  the  universal 
desire  for  correct  information  from  the  scene  of  army  opera- 
tions, against  those  terrible  hindrances  in  the  path  of  pro- 
gress— the  wild  Indians  of  the  plains. 


THE    HOSTILES.  61 

It  was  at  first  feared  that  the  surrender  of  Crow  King  and 
his  band  was  not  a  permanent  one ;  that  his  warriors  would 
again  seek  the  war-path  in  the  early  spring,  when  the  grow- 
ing grass  would  furnish  sustenance  for  their  ponies  ;  but  it 
soon  became  apparent  that  his  personal  surrender  was  made 
in  good  faith — that  he  really  desired  to  settle  down  on  a 
reservation  and  cultivate  the  arts  of  peace,  in  the  company 
of  his  old  men,  women,  and  children — a  desire  that,  lauda- 
ble as  it  was,  may  have  originated  from  the  fact  that  he  was 
sorely  wounded,  and  barely  able  to  sit  on  his  horse.  His 
people  had  unbounded  faith  in  him  as  a  leader.  The  young 
braves  of  his  tribe  looked  up  to  him  with  veneration,  and 
heeded  his  counsels,  as  became  the  loyal  subjects  of  a  brave 
and  kingly  warrior.  Although  they  acquiesced  reluctantly 
in  the  surrender,  yet  such  was  their  loyalty  to  their  leader, 
that  the  United  States  officers,  in  charge  of  negotiations,  had 
little  to  fear  from  future  treachery  on  the  part  of  his  follow- 
ers, save  only  from,  a  very  few  of  the  ugly,  discontented,  and 
unconquerable  warriors  that  are  found  attached  to  every 
tribe,  and  who  undoubtedly,  when  the  favorable  opportunity 
came,  would  desert  the  reservation  for  the  more  congenial 
Avar-path. 

The  late  action  of  the  British  authorities,  in  forbidding 
them  to  seek  shelter  on  Canadian  soil,  undoubtedly  planted 
the  seeds  of  peace  in  the  breast  of  many  an  unruly  savage. 
So  long  as  the  British  lines  were  open  to  them,  they  could 
penetrate  into  the  United  States,  commit  th'eir  bloody  deeds 
of  rapine  and  cruelty,  murdering  white  men  and  stealing 
horses  and  other  stock,  then,  when  pursued,  retreating  into 
the  friendly  shelter  of  the  Queen's  dominions,  knowing  that 
the  avenging  feet  of  their  pursuers  must  be  stayed  at  the 
border  line,  as  the  Government  troops  could  not  invade 
Canadian  soil  without  interference  with  international  law, 
which  would  doubtless  be  quickly  resented  by  the  Domin- 
ion authority.  But  when  this  friendly  shelter  was  closed 
against  them,  and  food  and  clothing  gave  out ;  when  the  win- 
ter snows  descended,  and  the  wild  winds  blew  fierce  and 
strong  across  the  wide  prairies  of  the  West,  then  many  a 
plumed  warrior's  heart  grew  weak ;  and  as  he  beheld  the 


62  SUBJUGATING 

armed  force  of  dauntless  troops  under,  the  brave  Major  G. 
Ilges,  of  the  5th  U.  S.  Infantry,  arrayed  against  their  weak 
and  shivering  band,  there  came  upon  them  a  desire  for  a 
cessation  of  hostilities.  They  hungered  again  for  the  "  flesh- 
pots  "  of  the  Indian  Agency,  and  meekly  submitted  to  the 
inevitable,  accepting  the  situation  with  the  coolness  and 
philosophy  characteristic  of  Indian  nature. 

The  surrender  of  Gall  to  Major  Guido  Ilges,  of  the  5th  U. 
S.  Infantry,  is  of  equal  importance  in  this  campaign,  and 
more  so  than  that  of  any  other  chief  under  Sitting  Bull,  ex- 
cept Crow  King.  He  was  really  the  Kilpatrick  of  the  whole 
Sioux  nation.  Major  Ilges  found  this  daring  and  reckless 
warrior  occupying  a  strong  position  in  the  timber  near  Pop- 
ular Creek  Agency.  After  making  a  demand  for  a  formal 
surrender,  which  was  at  first  stubbornly  refused  by  Gall,  he 
opened  fire  from  his  Gatling  guns,  together  with  several  vol- 
leys of  musketry. 

It  was  but  a  short  time  before  an  unconditional  surrender 
was  effected.  During  these  operations  against  the  "  Wily 
Gall,"  on  the  part  of  Major  Ilges,  the  chief  warrior,  "  Crow 
King,"  was  an  attentive  witness,  standing  on  the  roof  of  the 
trader's  store  at  the  Popular  River  Agency,  and,  strange  as  it 
may  seem,  not  only  sanctioned,  but  encouraged  in  every  way 
possible,  Major  Ilges  in  forcing  this  surrender,  as  he  could 
not  move  his  own  lodges  into  the  Agency  until  Gall  and  his 
warriors  were  out  of  the  wav. 


CHAPTER  II. 

The  Surrender. 

As  the  terms  of  his  surrender,  Crow  King  demanded  160 
acres  of  land  for  every  man,  woman  and  child  belonging  to 
his  tribe.  He  also  asked  that  school-houses  might  be  built 
for  the  children,  and  the  money  obtained  from  the  sale  of 
Indian  lands  devoted  to  this  purpose,  and  to  the  education 
of  his  people.  There  was  no  doubt  of  his  earnestness  in 
the  matter.  The  officers  in  the  field,  of  course,  could  prom- 
ise him  nothing  more  than  that  his  requests  should  be  laid 
before  the  proper  authorities  in  Washington.  This,  for  a 


CHIEF    GAUL, 

THE     GREAT     RAIDER     OF     THE     SIOUX     NATION. 


THE   HOSTILES.  63 

time,  gave  rise  to  angry  feelings  among  the  warriors,  par- 
ticularly among  the  young  chiefs.  They  stated  emphati- 
cally that  if  they  could  not  have  the  land,  as  requested  by 
their  head  chief,  they  would  prefer  to  brave  starvation  and 
roam  over  the  plains,  and  occasionally  join  a  war-party  of 
hostiles.  The  influence  of  Crow  King,  aided  doubtless  by 
the  cold  weather  and  the  scarcity  of  provisions,  quieted  these 
malcontents,  and  they  finally  agreed  to  throw  themselves  on 
the  generosity  of  the  Great  Father  at  Washington,  and  abide 
by  his  decision,  agreeing  to  accept  and  settle  upon  the  reser- 
vation allotted  to  them  by  the  government,  and  to  take  an 
interest  in  farming,  stock-raising,  and  educating  their  chil- 
dren. Crow  King  was  growing  old,  and  was  enfeebled  from 
his  wounds.  These  facts  doubtless  tended  to  convince  him 
that  it  was  greatly  to  his  interest,  as  well  as  for  the  future 
welfare  of  his  people,  to  settle  down  upon  a  reservation,  and 
conform  to  the  rules  and  regulations  of  the  government. 
As  for  the  young  warriors,  while  outwardly  acquiescing  in 
the  military  plans  for  their  future  usefulness,  it  was  doubt- 
less with  a  mental  reservation  that  when  the  little  exigency 
of  war,  in  which  they  were  unwilling  participants,  had  been 
safely  passed,  and  the  genial  summer  breezes  came  again, 
they  would  lightly  scatter  off  to  join  the  war -parties  on  the 
wild  prairies  in  their  raids  on  frontier  settlers.  Some  pos- 
sibly were  laying  plans  to  go  to  Arizona  and  New  Mexico, 
while  others  may  have  thought  to  join  the  untamed  Coman- 
ches  and  Kiowas  in  the  southern  Indian  country. 

But  whatever  may  have  been  the  secret  thoughts  and  pur- 
poses of  the  discomfited  warriors  at  the  formal  surrender  of 
their  chief  to  the  military,  they  deported  themselves  in  the 
highest  style  of  Indian  etiquette,  prescribed  by  custom  from 
time  immemorial  for  such  interesting  occasions.  Tricked 
out  in  their  finest  paint  and  feathers,  gorgeous  in  war-bon- 
nets of  snowy  eagle's  feathers,  adorned  with  beads,  and  their 
half-naked,  tawny  figures  glittering  with  savage  gew-gaws, 
and  mounted  on  ponies  whose  emaciated  forms  were  decked 
with  gaudy  colors,  they  bore  themselves  with  a  lofty  dignity 
and  grave  hauteur  befitting  to  a  race  of  royal  blood. 

Yet  was  there  a  ludicrous  element  in  the  pathetic  affair. 


64  SUBJUGATING 

The  picture  of  the  defeated  savages  surrendering  their  arms 
and  ponies,  as  an  act  of  special  grace  to  their  powerful  cap- 
tors, and  gravely  dictating  the  terms  of  surrender,  demand- 
ing cattle  and  sheep  in  payment  for  their  ponies,  was  a  sin- 
gular one  ;  and  a  somewhat  ridiculous  effect  of  the  policy  of 
the  Government  in  treating  the  savages  like  spoiled  children. 
"  I'll  be  good,  if  you'll  give  me  a  stick  of  candy ;  if  you  don't, 
I'll  be  terribly  naughty,"  is  the  childlike  argument  em- 
ployed by  the  anomalous  creations  of  nature,  alternately 
known  as  wards  and  dependents  of  the  Government,  and 
anon  figuring  as  "  prisoners  of  war."  The  policy  adopted 
by  the  Government,  of  first  yielding  to  their  insolent  de- 
mands, then  punishing  them  for  disobedience ;  again  coax- 
ing, petting,  and  bribing  them  into  good  behavior ;  then 
again  administering  deserved  chastisement ;  and  still  again 
resorting  to  bribes  and  presents  to  coax  them  into  submis- 
sion, is  a  course  that  would  speedily  make  an  end  of  family 
government ;  and  it  is  not  to  be  wondered  at  that  the  un- 
sophisticated red  children  of  nature  should  imbibe  false  and 
mistaken  ideas  relative  to  the  strength  and  good  judgment 
of  the  Great  Father  at  Washington. 

After  the  formal  surrender  had  been  effected,  with  all  the 
"  pomp  and  circumstance  "  of  Indian  finery  and  display,  and 
the  terms  of  capitulation  agreed  upon  by  the  commandant 
of  the  troops  and  Crow  King  (through  an  interpreter),  in  a 
council  of  his  warriors,  in  which  the  captive  chieftain  as- 
sumed to  himself  great  credit  for  gracefully  submitting  to 
the  inevitable,  and  leading  his  half-famished  people  to  the 
military  lines,  a  grand  "  pow-wow  "  and  peace  dance  was  held 
in  honor  of  the  event.  Rations  were  divided  by  the  soldiers 
with  the  prisoners,  and  every  effort  made  by  the  humane 
commander  of  the  troops  to  make  comfortable  the  squaws 
and  papooses,  together  with  the  sick  and  helpless  of  the  late 
hostile  camp.  Wagon  transportation  was  furnished  them 
to  Fort  Buford,  D.  T.,  where  they  were  comfortably  garri- 
soned. 

The  eloquent  plea  of  the  savage  warrior,  that  "  the  white 
man  has  kept  pushing,  and  driving,  and  fighting  the  red 
man  all  around  and  all  around,  and  all  over  the  prairie,  until 
he  has  no  place  to  go,"  is  surely  a  weighty  one. 


THE   HOST1LES.  65 

Would  that  the  government  of  the  best  and  most  enlight- 
ened nation  on  the  face  of  the  globe  would  reform  its  mode 
of  treatment  of  these  "wayward  children  of  the  forest,"  who, 
in  their  inmost  hearts,  are  bloodthirsty  assassins  and  mur- 
derers, yet  who  are  entitled  to  ordinary  justice  in  business 
transactions. 

It  is  a  standing  disgrace  to  our  civilization  to  alternately 
whip,  cheat,  bribe,  and  coax.  Treaties  should  not  be  made 
with  them  ;  but,  if  made,  should  be  religiously  kept. 

At  present  writing  the  Indian  problem  in  the  great  North- 
west is  still  unsolved.  God  grant  a  fair  and  speedy  solution. 


66  SUBJUGATING 


SECTION"  IV. 

THE    SURRENDER    OF    SITTING    BULL. 
(TA-TON-KA-I-Y-A-TON-KA.) 

CHAPTER  I. 

As  a  happy  finale  to  the  series  of  sanguinary  chapters  and 
exciting  incidents  of  savage  warfare  in  the  Northwest,  the 
author  is  pleased  to  append  a  brief  resume  of  the  career  of 
Sitting  Bull,  the  monarch  of  the  hostiles,  and  leader  of 
their  lawless  bands  through  nearly  twenty  years  of  continu- 
ous warfare  with  the  whites ;  a  career  distinguished  above 
that  of  his  fellow-hostiles  for  murder  and  rapine,  yet  which 
terminated  unexpectedly  in  his  bloodless  surrender  to  Major 
Brotherton,  of  the  regular  army,  July  19th,  1881. 

Of  the  early  life  of  Sitting  Bull,  little  is  known ;  yet  there 
is  no  question  of  his  having  been  at  war  with  the  whites 
since  1862,  and  during  all  the  period  intervening  between 
that  date  and  his  recent  surrender,  he  has  been  a  steady 
annoyance  in  the  field  to  the  army,  and  constant  source  of 
terror  and  anxiety  to  the  isolated  settlers  on  the  remote 
frontier.  All  the  way  from  Yankton  to  the  headquarters  of 
the  Missouri,  he  left  traces  of  his  presence  in  bloodshed  and 
burnings.  In  the  year  1865,  a  passenger  on  the  steamer 
"  Effie  Deans,"  en  route  to  Fort  Benton,  relates  that  when  at 
Hound  Butte,  Montana,  about  six  hundred  miles  by  river 
below  Benton,  the  steamer  was  fired  upon  from  a  hunting 
camp,  comprising  about  three  thousand  souls,  of  whom 
eight  hundred  were  warriors,  of  Sitting  Bull's  tribe.  Four 
days  previously  the  steamer  "  General  Grant "  had  passed  up, 
several  shots  were  fired  into  the  boat,  and  four  men  were 
killed.  Sitting  Bull  is  supposed  to  have  been  encamped  at 
this  place  some  two  months,  this  being  a  favorite  place  of 
resort  for  buffalo,  elk  and  other  wild  game,  and  here  for 


THE   HOSTILES.  67 

years  the  Sioux,  under  Sitting  Bull  and  his  associate  chiefs, 
had  repaired  in  the  hunting  season  to  seek  the  spoils  of  the 
chase. 

Sitting  Bull's  record,  from  the  earliest  date  of  which  men- 
tion is  made  of  him,  is  that  of  a  vindictive  and  determined 
enemy  of  the  white  man,  yet,  previously  to  the  year  1866,  he 
had  not  attained  distinction  above  his  fellow  chiefs,  or  gained 
a  tithe  of  the  overshadowing  fame  that  has  placed  his  name 
on  the  highest  pinnacle  of  savage  greatness. 

In  the  year  1866,  Sitting  Bull,  a  warrior  of  the  Uncapapa 
Sioux,  attained  wide -spread  notoriety  throughout  the  fron- 
tier posts  and  settlements,  by  means  of  his  murderous  raids 
and  savage  cruelties.  From  that  time  he  has  held  high 
rank  as  a  leader  of  the  hostile  Sioux — revered  by  his  own 
people  as  a  skillful  general,  wise  in  council  and  powerful  in 
war,  and  dreaded  by  the  whites  as  a  cruel  and  relentless 
enemy.  Of  late  years,  a  series  of  uninterrupted  successes 
in  the  field,  culminating  in  the  Ouster  massacre  of  1876,  gave 
him  a  prominence  not  hitherto  enjoyed  by  any  hostile  chief, 
and  rendered  his  name  a  familiar  but  dreaded  household 
word  in  every  hamlet  in  America.  Sitting  Bull  was  thought 
to  be  invincible,  hence  his  recent  surrender,  brought  about 
though  it  was  by  the  subtle  agencies  of  want  and  hunger, 
aided  as  it  was  by  the  firm  attitude  of  the  Canadian  author- 
ities, who  refused  longer  to  permit  his  followers  to  come 
and  go  at  pleasure  upon  British  soil,  was  a  surprise  as  un- 
expected as  it  was  agreeable  to  the  country  at  large. 

The  bulk  of  our  present  adult  aboriginal  population  were 
born  in  savagery,  and  have  lived  in  savagery.  Try  as  they 
will,  they  cannot  entirely  subdue  the  savage  instincts  to 
roam  at  will,  to  defy  restraint,  and  to  indulge  their  lawless 
appetites  for  blood  and  plunder.  Sitting  Bull's  influence 
for  evil  among  all  the  aboriginal  tribes  had  been  unbounded. 
He  had  ever  made  it  his  boast  that  he  would  never  go  upon 
a  reservation  or  make  peace  with  the  whites — a  resolution 
to  which  he  tenaciously  adhered.  His  nomadic  and  unre- 
strained life  of  freedom  on  the  plains  was  a  constant  lure  to 
those  Indians  who,  though  settled  upon  agencies,  and  os- 
tensibly engaged  in  cultivating  the  arts  of  peace,  yet  could 


68  SUBJUGATING 

not  wholly  conquer  the  natural  savage  longing  for  a  life  of 
unrestrained  and  careless  liberty.  His  camp-fires  in  the 
wild  fastnesses  of  the  far  Northwest  were  alluring  lights  to 
the  wild  and  restless  spirits,  whose  untamed  natures  chafed 
and  fretted  under  the  unwonted  restraint  of  agency  rule. 
His  bold  example  inspired  the  pining  warriors  on  the  reser- 
vations to  break  away  from  the  civilizing  influences  there 
brought  to  bear  upon  him,  and  to  seek  by  his  council-fires 
in  the  wilderness  pursuits  more  congenial. 

With  the  freshening  of  the  grass  in  the  spring,  large  num- 
bers of  the  young  and  able-bodied  warriors  of  the  tribes 
confined  at  the  various  Indian  agencies  on  the  Missouri, 
would  set  forth  to  join  his  lawless  hordes  on  their  annual 
round  of  plunder,  and  under  cover  of  his  name  to  prey  upon 
the  exposed  settlements,  and  destroy  the  lives  of  any  luck- 
less whites  who,  by  chance,  came  within  the  scope  of  their 
operations. 

It  had  long  been  a  recognized  fact,  both  in  the  Military 
and  Interior  Departments,  that  an  Indian  absent  without 
leave  from  his  proper  reservation,  was  necessarily  an  Indian 
hostile,  de  facto  and  de  jure  ;  and  since  it  was  manifestly  im- 
possible to  prevent  the  agency  Sioux  from  slipping  away 
during  the  season  of  buffalo  hunting,  and  attaching  them- 
selves to  the  hostile  forces,  the  capture  of  Sitting  Bull,  or 
the  breaking  up  of  his  hostile  rendezvous  in  the  Northwest, 
became  a  strategic  measure  of  overshadowing  importance 
in  all  plans  devised  by  the  military  authorities  for  subju- 
gating, or  by  the  onicials  of  the  Interior  Department  for 
benefiting  and  civilizing  the  Indians. 

Mutual  plans  were  devised  by  both  Departments  to  rem- 
edy the  grave  evils  arising  from  Agency  Indians  rallying  to 
the  medicine  banner  of  Sitting  Bull,  and  sharing  with  his 
restless  followers  the  spoils  and  plunder  of  the  war-path; 
but  all  to  no  avail.  The  evil  increased  alarmingly.  The  Mis- 
souri Biver  Agencies  became  but  bases  of  supplies  for  Sit- 
ting Bull's  insolent  army,  from  whence  were  drawn,  by  the 
hands  of  professedly  peaceful  Indians,  arms  and  munitions 
of  war,  clothing,  and  provisions.  The  ranks  of  the  hostiles 
were  increased  to  an  unusual  extent  during  the  hunting  sea- 


THB   HOSriLLti.  6!) 


son,  by  ihe  accession  of  large  numbers  of  able-bodied  war- 
riors, whose  winter  subsistence  was  derived  from  the  bounty 
of  the  government.  Those  who  remained  upon  the  reser- 
vations evinced  an  uneasy  and  discontented  spirit,  until,  at 
length,  the  signs  of  disaffection  at  the  larger  Agencies,  such 
as  Standing  Bock,  Spotted  Tail,  Bed  Cloud,  etc.,  containing 
then  some  40,000  Indians,  became  so  marked  that  a  general 
outbreak  was  feared,  unless  steps  were  promptly  taken  to 
subdue  the  outlaws  under  Sitting  Bull,  and  compel  them  to 
settle  down  upon  some  designated  spot,  to  be  selected  by 
the  government.  Accordingly,  in  December,  1875,  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior  notified  the  hostiles  that  they  must, 
before  the  close  of  the  following  January,  come  into  the  re- 
servations, "or  a  military  force  would  be  sent  out  to  com- 
pel them  to  come  in."  This  peremptory  order  was  met  with 
the  scorn  and  defiance  that  had  characterized  the  demeanor 
of  the  hostiles  in  all  their  communications  with  the  white 
man's  government.  As  a  last  recourse,  therefore,  on  the  ex- 
piration of  the  stated  time,  the  Secretary  of  War  was  form- 
ally notified  that  these  Indians  were  turned  over  to  the  mil- 
itary authorities,  for  such  action  as  might  be  deemed  proper 
for  their  subjugation  and  chastisement. 

The  campaign  of  1876  was  then  organized  by  General 
Sheridan,  on  the  plan  already  described  at  some  length  in 
this  volume,  by  which,  in  the  simultaneous  movement  of 
three  distinct  columns  from  Montana,  Dakota,  and  the 
Platte,  toward  a  common  centre,  where  was  supposed  to  be  lo- 
cated the  camp  of  the  hostiles,  a  crushing  blow  could  be  ad- 
ministered to  the  forlorn  hope  of  savage  obduracy,  seeking 
to  escape  the  fate  that  had  been  decreed  to  the  red  man  in 
the  remnants  of  his  once  wide  domain,  the  alternative  of 
either  civilization  or  extermination.  The  movements  of 
these  columns,  the  repulse  of  General  Crook,  and  the  tragic 
death  of  General  Custer  and  his  men,  which  formed  the  bit- 
ter fruits  of  this  unfortunate  expedition,  have  been  already 
described  in  detail  in  these  pages.  Suffice  it,  then,  to  say, 
that,  after  the  battle,  the  victorious  savages  proceeded  north- 
ward, and  crossed  the  boundary  line  into  the  Dominion  of 
Canada,  and  quartered  themselves  upon  the  bounty  of  her 


70  SUBJUGATING 

Majesty  the  Queen  of  England.  Here  Sitting  Bull  and  his 
followers  remained  in  peace  through  the  following  year,  re- 
fusing the  overtures  of  Chief  Joseph  to  take  part  in  the  Nez 
Perces  campaign  of  1877.  In  the  stirring  events  of  that 
campaign,  the  opening  fight  at  Big  Hole,  Howard's  long  and 
arduous  pursuit,  and  final  success,  with  Miles'  aid,  in  cap- 
turing Joseph  and  his  band,  together  with  the  later  fight  at 
Bear-Paw  Mountain,  between  Lame  Deer,  a  Sioux,  and  the 
troops  under  General  Miles,  engrossed,  for  a  time,  public 
attention,  and  the  conqueror  of  Ouster  was  left  to  his  repose. 
But  not  long  did  quiet  reign. 

The  followers  of  the  stoic  chieftain  began  to  cross  the  lines, 
commit  depredations  on  the  pebple  of  Montana,  and  elude 
capture  and  punishment  by  escaping  to  their  leader's  camp 
at  Wood  Mountain.  Grave  questions  of  international  law 
now  puzzled  the  authorities  at  Washington,  and  to  avoid 
complications  with  a  border  territory,  as  well  as  to  insure 
protection  to  the  helpless  settlers  south  of  the  Canadian 
boundary  line,  it  was  decided  to  make  an  effort  to  effect 
by  diplomacy  what  force  of  arms  had  failed  to  bring  about, 
and  to  send,  to  treat  with  Sitting  Bull,  a  commission  of  such 
dignity  and  character,  that  he  would  necessarily  be  con- 
vinced of  the  truth  and  reliability  of  its  promises  and  pre- 
sentations. 

Leave  was  accordingly  obtained  from  the  British  authori- 
ties for  the  entrance  of  the  commission  into  the  Canadian 
territory.  The  followers  of  Sitting  Bull  at  this  time  com- 
prised but  a  moiety  of  those  who  had  participated  in  the 
Custer  massacre,  many  of  the  warriors  who  had  there  glut- 
ted their  fiendish  thirst  for  blood  and  torture  having  re- 
turned to  the  agencies  to  which  they  belonged,  and  were 
there  re-enacting  the  role  of  good  Indians,  by  submissively 
devouring  the  rations  issued  by  a  magnanimous  govern- 
ment to  its  "  wayward  children." 

The  Peace  Commission  to  Sitting  Bull  was  composed  of 
General  A.  H.  Terry,  the  commander  of  the  defeated  Dakota 
column  in  the  campaign  of  the  previous  year,  and  Hon.  A. 
G.  Lawrence,  of  Massachusetts.  The  embassy  proceeded 
•with  an  escort  to  the  British  line,  and  were  there  met  by  a 


THE   HOSTILES.  71 

battalion  of  the  Northwestern  mounted  police,  who  guided 
them  to  Fort  Walsh — and  here  was  presented  the  extraordi- 
nary spectacle  of  a  powerful  government  sending  overtures 
of  peace  and  reconciliation  to  the  leading  outlaw  and  free- 
booter of  the  country,  by  the  hand  of  the  military  commander 
whose  troops  he  had  defeated  by  force  of  arms.  Much 
trouble  was  experienced  in  obtaining  the  consent  of  Sitting 
Bull  and  his  leading  chiefs  to  an  interview ;  but  this  was 
finally  gained  through  the  intercession  of  the  British  officers 
at  the  fort,  and  on  the  17th  of  October  an  interview  was  held 
within  the  limits  of  the  fort. 

The  renegade  chieftain  received  his  distinguished  visitors 
with  every  mark  of  savage  discourtesy.  He  haughtily  re- 
fused their  proffered  hands,  demanded  that  they  should  not 
sit  behind  the  table,  at  which  they  had  seated  themselves, 
and  sneeringly  told  them  to  speak  the  truth  to  the  assem- 
bled chiefs.  The  ambassadors,  on  behalf  of  their  govern- 
ment, then  presented  the  reasons  why  the  hostiles  should 
cease  their  hostile  acts,  return  to  the  United  States,  and  join 
the  agencies. 

The  honorable  treatment  meted  out  to  the  tribes  who  had 
surrendered,  the  ever-recurring  bounty  of  the  government, 
the  daily  rations  and  frequent  gifts,  were  painted  in  glowing 
colors. 

It  was  promised  to  the  Canadian  refugees,  on  behalf  of 
the  United  States  Government,  that  no  harm  should  befall 
any  of  their  number  who  would  consent  to  cross  the  line, 
and  peacefully  take  up  their  abode  at  any  of  the  agencies. 
Not  only  would  they  be  protected  from  harm,  but  many 
favors  and  privileges  would  be  granted  them ;  while  the 
proceeds  from  the  sale  of  their  ponies  and  arms,  which 
they  would  be  required  to  surrender,  would  be  applied  to 
their  benefit.  These  proposals  were  rejected  emphatically 
and  insolently,  and  the  commission  was,  so  far  as  any  good 
results  were  attained,  a  complete  failure. 

During  the  remainder  of  that,  and  of  the  following  year 
(1878),  Sitting  Bull  and  his  band  remained  quietly  on  the 
northern  side  of  the  boundary  line,  only  a  few  of  his  war- 
riors occasionally  crossing  to  American  soil  in  pursuit  of 


72  SUBJUGATING 

buffalo,  and  their  stay  was  never  prolonged.  Reports  of  his 
coming  in  force  were,  however,  frequently  rife  among  the 
frontiersmen,  and  in  the  summer  a  reconnoissance  of  troops 
in  force  was  made  north  of  the  Missouri,  without  result, 
however,  and  as  the  hostiles  seemed  inclined  to  keep  the 
peace,  and  remain  permanently  north  of  the  line,  operations 
against  them  were,  for  the  time,  suspended,  by  order  of  Gen- 
eral Sherman.  Trouble  with  the  Bannock  Indians  having 
then  arisen,  and  the  hostile  remnant  of  the  Nez  Perces  mak- 
ing demonstrations  of  hostilities,  Sitting  Bull  once  more 
dropped  out  of  public  notice. 

For  the  protection  of  the  settlers  in  northern  Montana,  a 
cordon  of  forts  had  been  commenced  in  1877,  which  were 
now  nearly  completed,  and  there  was  every  reason  to  believe 
that  the  former  scene  of  the  Sioux  troubles — the  valley  of 
the  Yellowstone  and  its  tributaries— would  not  be  again 
entered  by  them.  But  north  of  their  former  field  of  opera- 
tions they  could  roam  unrestrainedly,  while  the  stores  of 
government  supplies  at  Poplar  Elver  and  other  outlying 
posts  were  never  safe  from  their  raids. 

In  the  opening  of  the  year  1879  a  panic  prevailed  among 
the  white  settlers  near  the  border,  in  consequence  of  large 
bands  of  Sitting  Bull's  Indians  crossing  the  line  and  com- 
mitting depredations,  killing  the  cattle  of  the  settlers,  steal- 
ing horses,  etc.  General  Miles  was  accordingly  sent  to  take 
the  field,  with  troops  sufficient  to  repel  and  overcome  any 
body  of  Indians,  however  large  ;  and  on  the  12th  of  July  he 
crossed  to  the  northern  bank  of  the  Missouri  with  his  com- 
mand, in  the  vicinity  of  Old  Fort  Keck,  and  five  days  later 
the  advance  detachment,  under  Lieutenant  Clark,  struck  a 
large  body  of  Indians  between  Beaver  Creek  and  Milk  Kiver, 
and  a  spirited  skirmish  ensued.  Sitting  Bull  was  in  com- 
mand in  person,  and  the  battle  would  have  ended  disas- 
trously for  the  whites,  as  they  were  largely  outnumbered— 
but  on  the  near  approach  of  the  main  body  of  the  troops  he 
prudently  withdrew  to  the  north  bank  of  Milk  River,  thence 
retreating  to  the  British  possessions.  Many  Indians  were 
captured  in  the  retreat,  and  the  operations  of  that  summer 
were  attended  with  gratifying  results.  The  bands  of  half- 


THE   HOST1LES.  73 

breeds,  who  had  by  their  nefarious  traffic  with  the  hostiles 
kept  them  well  supplied  with  arms  and  ammunition,  were 
either  captured  or  dispersed,  and  their  traffic  broken  up. 
On  the  28th  of  July,  Long  Dog,  an  emissary  from  Sitting 
Bull's  camp,  reported  that  the  hostiles  had  elected  to  remain 
permanently  north  of  the  line,  and  General  Miles  was  as- 
sured by  the  commandant  of  the  mounted  police  that  no 
further  apprehension  need  be  entertained  of  hostile  raids — 
assurances  which  the  facts  in  the  end  fully  justified. 

During  the  summer  of  1880,  there  were  a  few  isolated 
cases  of  murder  and  theft,  in  which  the  hand  of  the  Sioux 
was  apparent ;  but  the  surrender  to  General  Miles,  in  the 
autumn,  of  the  notorious  Rain-in-the-Face,  with  many 
other  chiefs  and  thousands  of  their  followers,  virtually  set- 
tled the  Indian  problem  in  the  Northwest. 

When  Rain-in-the-Face  crossed  the  line  and  surrendered,, 
Gaul  and  his  followers  crossed  also,  but  the  latter  went  to 
Poplar  Creek  instead  of  Fort  Keogh,  and  though  at  first  ex- 
pressing a  willingness  to  surrender,  he  delayed  from  time  to 
time,  until  January  2d,  1881,  he  yielded  to  the  persuasions 
of  Colonel  Ilges  and  his  frost-bitten  soldiers,  and  a  few  shots 
from  his  Gatling  guns,  and  gave  himself  up.  Crow  King  had 
previously  surrendered,  and  Sitting  Bull  was  left  alone  in  his. 
glory,  and  with  a  handful  of  dispirited  followers,  in  his  old 
retreat  at  Wood  Mountain.  He,  too,  now  submits  to  the  in- 
evitable, recognizing  in  the  rapid  development  of  the  North- 
west country,  the  signs  of  the  inevitable  fate  that  thrusts 
upon  the  red  man  the  alternative  of  civilization  or  extermi- 
nation. With  his  handful  of  half-starved  followers,  he 
reluctantly  accepts  the  bounty  of  the  government  he  has  so 
long  defied,  yet  remains  sullen  and  defiant  to  the  last. 

Through  the  efforts  of  the  scout,  Louis  Legare,  mainly, 
the  once  powerful  chieftain  of  the  Sioux  was  induced  to 
come  into  the  lines  and  surrender  to  the  military,  kind 
treatment  and  immunity  from  punishment  for  his  past  mis- 
deeds having  been  previously  guaranteed  him.  With  the 
last  remnant  of  his  people,  some  two  hundred  souls,  old 
men,  women  and  children,  the  old  war-chief  arrived  at  Fori 
Buford,  Dakota,  at  noon,  on  July  19th,  1881.  At  the  head 


SUBJUGATING 


of  the  mournful  cortege  rode  Sitting  Bull,  Four  Horns,  Bed 
Thunder  and  other  sub-chiefs,  011  their  war  ponies,  and 
following  came  six  army  wagons  loaded  with  the  squaws  and 
children,  and  behind  them  came  some  twenty -five  of  Louis 
Jjegare's  Red  River  carts,  containing  their  baggage. 

They  presented  a  forlorn  and  pitiful  appearance — the 
great  Sitting  Bull  himself  being  very  dirty  and  very  hungry, 
his  face  wearing  a  sullen,  bull-dog  expression,  his  dress  and 
appearance  bearing  marks  of  the  hardships  and  destitution 
he  has  recently  experienced.  Yet,  until  called  upon  to  sur- 
render his  arms,  he  preserved  under  this,  the  most  trying 
ordeal  to  a  savage,  a  dignified  and  unbroken  silence.  Thus 
ended  the  war  in  the  Northwest.  The  closing  of  the  five 
years'  campaign  against  the  most  remarkable  leader  of  mod- 
ern times  is  tersely  chronicled  in  the  following  official  dis- 
patches : 

FORT  BUFORD,  D.  T.,  July  14,  1881.— Gen.  A.  H.  Terry, 
•Commanding  Department  Dakota,  Fort  Snelling :  Just  re- 
ceived a  dispatch  from  Legare,  dated  12th  inst.;  says  he  is 
en  route  with  Sitting  Bull,  Four  Horns  and  Red  Thunder; 
in  all,  6  chiefs,  40  families — about  200  in  all,  men,  women 
and  children.  He  says  they  came  from  Lake  Qu'Appelle, 
starving.  Will  send  in  this  morning  to  meet  them  with 
rations.  Messenger  says  they  are  about  sixty  miles  out. 
(Signed)  D.  H.  BROTHERTON,  Maj.  7th  Infantry,  Com. 

FORT  BUFORD,  D.  T.,  July  19.— Gen.  A.  H.  Terry,  Com- 
manding Department  of  Dakota,  Fort  Snelling  :  Sitting  Bull 
and  his  followers  surrendered  to  me  at  noon  to-day. 

(Signed)     D.  H.  BROTHERTON,  Maj.  7th  Infantry,  Com. 

While  the  last  act  of  the  drama,  the  final  scene  in  Sitting 
Bull's  career  as  a  warrior,  was  enacted  at  noon  on  July  20th, 
when,  by  the  hand  of  his  little  son,  he  delivered  to  Major 
Brotherton  the  rifle  he  had  carried  throughout  so  many 
bloody  fields.  This  being  done,  the  great  chieftain  spoke  as 
follows : 

"I  surrender  this  rifle  to  you  through  my  young  son,  whom 
I  now  desire  to  teach  in  this  manner  that  he  has  become  a 
friend  of  the  Americans.  I  wish  him  to  learn  the  habits  of 


THE    HOSTILES.  75 

the  whites  and  to  be  educated  as  tlieir  sons  are  educated.  I 
wish  it  to  be  remembered  that  I  was  the  last  man  of  my  tribe 
to  surrender  my  rifle.  This  boy  has  given  it  to  you,  and  he 
now  wants  to  know  how  he  is  going  to  make  a  living.  "What- 
ever you  have  to  give  or  whatever  you  have  to  say,  I  would 
like  to  receive  or  hear  now,  for  I  don't  wish  to  be  kept  in 
darkness  longer.  I  have  sent  several  messengers  in  here 
from  time  to  time,  but  none  of  them  have  returned  with 
news.  The  other  chiefs,  Crow  King  and  Gaul,  have  not  want- 
ed me  to  come,  and  I  have  never  received  good  news  from 
here.  I  now  wish  to  be  allowed  to  live  this  side  of  the  line 
or  the  other,  as  I  see  fit.  I  wish  to  continue  my  old  life  of 
hunting,  but  would  like  to  be  allowed  to  trade  on  both  sides 
of  the  line.  This  is  my  country,  and  I  don't  wish  to  be  com- 
pelled to  give  it  up.  My  heart  was  very  sad  at  having  to 
leave  the  great  mother's  country.  She  has  been  a  friend  to 
me,  but  I  want  my  children  to  grow  up  in  oar  native  country, 
and  I  also  wish  to  feel  that  I  can  visit  two  of  my  friends  on 
the  other  side  of  the  line,  viz.:  Major  Walsh  and  Captain 
McDonald,  whenever  I  wish,  and  would  like  to  trade  with 
Louis  Legare,  as  he  has  always  been  a  friend  to  me.  I  wish 
to  have  all  my  people  live  together  upon  one  reservation  of 
our  own  on  the  Little  Missouri.  I  left  several  families  at 
Wood  Mountain  and  between  there  and  Qu'Appelle.  I  have 
many  people  among  the  Yanktonais  at  Poplar  Creek,  and 
I  wish  all  them  and  those  who  have  gone  to  Standing  Bock 
to  be  collected  together  upon  one  reservation.  My  people 
have  many  of  them  been  bad.  All  are  good  now  that  their 
arms  and  ponies  have  been  taken  from  them.  (Speaking  to 
Major  Brotherton): 

"  You  own  this  ground  with  me,  and  we  must  try  and  help 
each  other.  I  do  not  wash  to  leave  here  until  I  get  all  the 
people  I  left  behind  and  the  Uncapapas  now  at  Poplar  Creek. 
I  would  like  to  have  my  daughter,  who  is  now  at  Fort  Yates, 
sent  up  here  to  visit  me,  as  also  eight  men  now  there  (men- 
tioning their  names),  and  I  would  like  to  know  that  Louis 
Legare  is  to  be  rewarded  for  his  services  in  bringing  me  and 
my  people  in  here." 

Sitting  Bull  and  his  people  have  been  sent  to  the  Indian 


76  SUBJUGATING 

Agency  of  Standing  Bock,  Dakota,  on  the  Missouri  River, 
where  Rain-in-the-Face,  Gaul,  Long-Dog  and  other  chiefs  of 
his  tribe,  with  their  followers,  have  preceded  him. 

At  this  agency  there  are  now  fully  7,000  Indians,  and 
though  "finis  "  may  now  ba  appended  to  the  last  chapter  of 
the  history  of  the  Indian  wars  in  the  Northwest,  yet,  in 
dealing  with  these  pent-up  savages,  soothing  the  malcon- 
tents, and  restraining  the  unruly  spirits  there  confined  from 
deeds  of  violence,  in  helping  and  instructing  those  suscepti- 
ble of  civilizing  influences,  and  benefiting  and  christian- 
izing all,  the  Interior  Department  has  a  task  as  weighty,  a 
labor  as  arduous,  and  a  problem  more  puzzling,  than  that 
just  worked  out  by  the  military,  in  their  subjugation  and 
capture. 


CHAPTER  II. 

Officers  in  the  Field  against  Sitting  Bull  since  1872. 

The  commanding  officer  of  the  Department  of  Dakota,. 
Brevet-Major-General  Alfred  H.  Terry,  is  one  of  the  Briga- 
dier-Generals in  the  regular  army.  He  entered  the  volunteer 
service  at  the  beginning  of  the  late  civil  war,  in  1861,  as 
Colonel  of  the  2d  Connecticut  Volunteers.  In  1862  he  was 
promoted  to  a  Brigadier-General,  and  in  1864  to  a  Major- 
General  of  Volunteers,  and  in  1885  he  was  made  a  Brigadier- 
General  in  the  regular  army.  In  accepting  his  commission 
he  also  received  the  following,  which  Congress,  by  joint 
resolution,  passed  as  a  vote  of  thanks  to  him  and  the  officers 
under  his  command  :  "  For  the  unsurpassed  gallantry  and 
skill  exhibited  by  them  in  the  attack  upon  Fort  Fisher,  and 
the  brilliant  and  decisive  victory  by  which  that  important 
work  has  been  captured  from  the  Rebel  forces,  and  placed 
in  the  possession  and  under  the  authority  of  the  United 
States,  and  for  their  long  and  faithful  services  and  unswerv- 
ing devotion  to  the  cause  of  the  country  in  the  midst  of  its 
greatest  difficulties  and  dangers."  He  was  made  a  Brevet- 
Major-General  in  1866,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
in  the  capture  of  Wilmington,  North  Carolina.  He  has  been 


THE   HOSTILES.  77 

in  command  of  this  military  department  since  1873,  and  the 
country  has  been  fully  advised  at  various  times  in  regard 
to  important  operations  against  the  hostiles.  He  needs  no 
comment  nor  compliment  from  our  pen. 

Of  the  officers  who  have  been  stationed  on  the  extreme 
frontier  of  civilization  at  times  during  the  past  ten  years, 
for  the  purpose  of  opening  and  protecting  the  new  North- 
Vest,  we  will  make  mention,  in  order  to  more  fully  explain 
to  our  readers  that  the  work  has  not  been  confined  to  a  very 
small  number  of  officers,  and  that  several  of  our  best  regi- 
ments have  been  brought  to  the  front  to  take  part  in  con- 
quering the  Sioux  warriors.  Among  the  first  that  were  in 
command  was  Brigadier-General  W.  B.  Hazen,  recently  pro- 
moted from  the  cc-lonelcy  of  the  6th  United  States  Infantry, 
and  now  chief  signal  officer.  He  was  made  a  Brevet-Major- 
General  in  1865. 

He  was  appointed  from  the  military  academy  at  West 
Point  in  1859.  In  1859  he  was  promoted  for  gallant  conduct 
in  several  engagements  with  Indians  in  Texas.  During  the 
war  he  was  promoted  at  different  times  for  gallant  and  meri- 
torious services  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.,  Chatta- 
nooga, Tenn.;  in  the  capture  of  Atlanta,  Ga.,  and  Fort  McAl- 
lister, Ga.,  and  for  long  and  continued  service  of  the  highest 
character,  and  for  special  gallantry  and  service  at  Fort 
McAllister.  In  his  promotion  the  infantry  lost  one  of  its 
ablest  commanders,  and  one  of  the  most  gentlemanly  officers 
in  the  service  of  the  United  States  ;  but  the  Signal  Service 
gains  one  of  the  brightest  stars  in  the  constellation  at 
Washington. 

Daniel  Huston,  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  6th  Infantry, 
was  appointed  from  the  military  academy  at  West  Point  in 
1848.  At  the  beginning  of  the  late  war  he  was  distinguished 
in  the  battle  of  Wilson's  Creek,  Mo.,  for  gallant  conduct 
He  was  promoted  for  special  gallant  and  meritorious  service 
during  the  siege  of  Yicksburg,  and  later,  for  gallant  and 
meritorious  service  during  the  war.  During  his  service  in 
this  department  he  was  in  command  at  Forts  Buford  and 
Stevenson.  He  is  highly  esteemed  by  the  old  pioneers  and 
citizens  throughout  the  Northwest. 


78  SUBJUGATING 

Brevet-Colonel  Orlando  H.  Moore,  Major  of  the  6th  Iii- 
faiitry,  entered  the  regular  army  in  1856.  "Was  appointed 
from  the  State  of  Michigan.  He  was  promoted  at  different 
times  during  the  war  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services, 
and  for  special  gallantry  in  action  at  Tebbs  Bend,  Ky.  He 
has  done  most  excellent  service  in  the  Northwest  in  bring- 
ing the  hostiles  in,  and  is  not  only  one  of  the  bravest  of  the 
brave,  but  is  a  most  courteous  and  faithful  officer. 

Brevet-Major-General  David  S.  Stanley,  Colonel  of  the 
22d  Infantry,  was  among  the  first  to  have  a  command  in  the 
Northwest,  after  the  right  of  way  was  granted  to  the  North- 
ern Pacific  Bailroad.  He  was  appointed  to  the  regular  army 
from  the  military  academy  at  "West  Point  in  1852.  He  was 
among  the  most  distinguished  officers  in  the  war  of  the  re- 
bellion, and  received  rapid  promotion  for  gallant  and  meri- 
torious services  in  the  battles  of  Stone  River,  Tenn.;  Besaca, 
Ga.;  Buff's  Station,  Ga.;  and  Franklin,  Tenn. 

He  commanded  the  great  expedition  in  1873,  from  Forts 
Bice  and  Lincoln,  that  penetrated  farther  into  the  hitherto 
unknown  western  wilds  than  ever  our  army  had  been  before. 
The  trail  he  made  has  since  been  known  as  "  the  Stanley 
trail,"  and  has,  more  or  less,  been  a  guide  to  the  engineers 
and  pioneers  in  locating  a  permanent  line  for  the  Northern 
Pacific  Bailroad  from  the  Missouri  Biver  to  Pompey's  Pil- 
lar, in  the  headwaters  of  the  Yellowstone.  The  22d  Infantry 
did  most  excellent  and  hard  service,  both  officers  and  men, 
while  stationed  at  different  military  posts  in  this  depart- 
ment. 

Brevet-Brigadier-General  Thomas  L.  Crittenden,  Colonel 
of  the  17th  Infantry,  came  with  his  regiment  to  this  depart- 
ment in  an  early  day,  which  can  now  be  looked  upon  as  the 
veteran  regiment  in  the  Northwest.  General  Crittenden  was 
a  Major-General  of  Volunteers  during  the  war,  and  has  had 
vast  experience  in  military  as  well  as  in  political  affairs  in 
his  own  State.  He  was  promoted  for  gallant  and  meritori- 
ous service  in  the  battle  of  Stone  Biver,  Tenn.  Ever  zeal- 
ous, and  one  of  the  best  military  advisers  and  administra- 
tive officers  in  the  Northwest. 

W.  P.  Carlin,  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  17th  Infantry,  was  a 


THE   HOSTILES.  79 

Brevet-Major-General  in  the  late  civil  war,  and  was  pro- 
moted at  different  times  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services 
in  the  battles  of  Chattanooga,  Tenn.  ;  Jonesboro',  Ga.  ;  and 
Bentonville,  N.  C.  He  entered  the  regular  army  from  the 
Military  Academy  at  West  Point,  in  1850.  He  has  been 
commanding  officer  at  various  military  stations  in  Dakota- 
Territory,  and,  until  quite  recently,  at  Fort  Yates,  or  more 
generally  known  to  the  outside  world  as  the  Standing  Rock 
Agency.  He  is  a  strictly  moral  and  temperate  man,  and  his 
duties  have  at  times  been  onerous,  but  his  official  career  has 
always  been  approved  by  the  Lieut.-General  and  General  of 
the  Army. 

Eobert  E.  A.  Crofton,  previous  to  1879,  was  the  Major  of 
the  17th  Infantry,  while  he  was  serving  in  this  department 
in  earlier  days.  He  was  promoted  at  different  times  during 
the  war  of  secession,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in 
the  battles  of  Shiloh,  Tenn  ;  Chickamauga,  Ga.  ;  and  Mission 
Ridge,  Tenn.  He  is  now  Lieut. -Colonel  of  the  13th  Infantry. 
He  is  not  only  a  brave,  but  a  model  and  gentlemanly  officer. 

The  2d  U.  S.  Cavalry  has  been  on  duty  in  this  department 
since  1876,  stationed  at  Forts  Custer  and  Keogh,  Montana 
Territory.  Brevet-Major-General  John  W.  Davidson  was 
Colonel  of  the  regiment  from  March,  1879,  up  to  the  time  of 
his  death  in  St.  Paul,  but  a  few  days  since.  He  was  ap- 
pointed to  the  regular  army  from  the  Military  Academy  at 
West  Point,  in  1845.  He  was  promoted  at  different  times 
during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  in  the  battles  of  Gaines  Mill,  Va.  ;  Golding's  Farm, 
Va. ;  and  the  capture  of  Little  Rock,  Ark.  He  was  a  strict 
disciplinarian,  and  did  much  to  elevate  the  morale  of  the 
army.  He  died  a  few  days  since  in  St.  Paul,  Minn.,  while 
en  route  east  to  recuperate  his  broken  health.  By  his  death 
the  cavalry  loses  one  of  its  ablest  commanders,  the  army 
one  of  its  noblest  veterans,  and  his  bereaved  family  a  kind- 
hearted  husband  and  father.  The  other  field  officers  of  this 
regiment  have  experienced  equally  as  hard  service  as  those 
of  other  regiments,  and  have  displayed  great  energy  and 
skill  in  bringing  this  Indian  war  to  a  close.  Their  service 
in  the  field  has  been  in  the  extreme  Northwest,  at  times  near 
the  British  Possessions. 


80  SUBJUGATING 

In  1876,  after  the  battles  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  this  de- 
partment was  reinforced  by  the  5th  U.  S.  Infantry,  com- 
manded by  Brig.-General  Nelson  A.  Miles,  then  Colonel  of 
the  regiment.  He  has  deservedly  been  promoted  for  special 
gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  in  the  Northwest.  By  his 
promotion  the  infantry  loses  a  brilliant  eagle,  but  the  list  of 
Brigadiers  gains  a  bright  star.  It  was  through  his  general- 
ship that  Chief  Joseph  and  his  band  were  captured. 

Brevet-Brig. -General  Joseph  Whistler,  the  Lieut.-Col.  of 
the  5th  Infantry,  has  a  record  well  known.  He  entered  the 
regular  army  from  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  in 
1843.  He  was  promoted  for  gallantry  on  the  battle-field  of 
Cherubusco,  in  the  Mexican  War,  and  again  promoted  for 
gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  front  of  Petersburg,  Va. 
He  has  been  in  command  at  Fort  Keogh  most  of  the  time 
since  it  was  built,  and  has  also  taken  no  little  part  in  active 
field  operations  in  forcing  Sitting  Bull  and  his  warriors  to 
their  final  surrender.  He  is  genial  as  he  is  brave,  and 
always  in  good  humor.  Western  people  will  always  hail 
with  joy  the  veteran  "  General  Joseph  Whistler." 

The  7th  U.  S.  Infantry  has  done  long  and  effective  service 
in  the  Northwest  under  command  of  Brevet-Major-General 
John  Gibbon,  its  brave  and  popular  Colonel.  For  the  past 
several  years  a  greater  portion  of  the  regiment  have  been 
serving  in  Western  Montana. 

General  John  Gibbon  entered  the  regular  army  by  ap- 
pointment from  the  Military  Academy  at  West  Point  in 
July,  1847.  He  was  assigned  to  duty  in  the  4th  Artillery, 
and  during  the  late  civil  war  he  was  promoted  to  a  Major- 
General  of  Volunteers,  and  special  promotion  from  time  to 
time  for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  in  the  battles  of 
Antietam,  Md.;  Fredericksburg,  Va.;  Gettysburg,  Pa.;  Spott- 
sylvania,  Va.;  and  in  the  capture  of  Petersburg,  Va.  He  is 
an  excellent  administrative  military  officer,  and  his  services 
liave  been  invaluable  in  the  Northwest,  having  taken  an 
active  part  in  several  important  expeditions  against  the  hos- 
tile Sioux. 

The  Lieut. -Colonel  of  this  regiment,  Chas.  C.  Gilbert,  was 
appointed  to  the  regular  army  from  the  Military  Academy 


THE  HOST1LES.  81 

at  West  Point  in  July,  1846,  and  in  the  late  civil  war  was 
promoted  to  a  Brig. -General  of  Volunteers.  He  was  distin- 
guished for  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles  of 
Shiloh,  Tenn.;  Richmond,  Ky.;  Springfield,  Mo.;  Pittsburg 
Landing,  Tenn.;  and  in  the  battle  of  Perry ville,  Ky.  He  now 
commands  at  the  Standing  Eock  Indian  Agency,  on  the  Mis- 
souri River,  and  more  recently  known  as  Fort  Yates.  About 
seven  thousand  Indians  are  located  at  this  agency,  under  the 
immediate  charge  of  Major  McLaughlin,  well  known  in 
Dakota  Territory  as  an  experienced  and  efficient  Indian 
agent.  He  is  assisted  by  the  Rev.  Father  Chrysostrom,  a 
Catholic  missionary,  who  has  done  good  work  in  the  way  of 
organizing  schools  at  different  stations  in  the  Northwest.  It 
is  expected  that  Sitting  Bull  will  be  sent  to  this  agency  in  a 
very  few  days. 

David  H.  Brotherton  is  the  Major  of  the  7th  Infantry, 
Jbaving  commenced  his  career  in  the  regular  army  in  July, 
1854,  after  graduating  at  the  Military  Academy  at  West 
Point.  He  was  distinguished  at  different  times  for  gallant 
conduct  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  particularly  in 
the  battle  of  Valverde,  N.  M.  In  his  knowledge  and  judg- 
ment of  Indian  affairs  he  stands  pre-eminent ;  and  in  the 
general  management  of  the  wild  and  untamed  tribes,  he  has 
no  superior  among  the  field  officers  in  this  department.  Dur- 
ing the  past  winter,  and  up  to  the  present  time,  it  has  been  his 
decree  to  take  an  active  part  in  negotiating  with  and  forcing 
Sitting  Bull  and  his  followers  to  this  final  surrender.  It  was 
Major  Brotherton  who  compelled  the  surrender  of  "  Crow 
King,  chief  warrior  of  Sitting  Bull's  tribes,"  last  January, 
at  Fort  Buford. 

"Crow  King,"  to  use  an  army  phrase,  was  the  Lieut.- 
General  of  the  Sioux  warriors,  under  the  leadership  of  Sit- 
ting Bull.  He  surrendered,  however,  under  the  most  earnest 
protestations,  and  against  the  positive  orders  of  Sitting  BulL 
The  fact  is,  he  could  no  longer  stem  the  tide  of  coming  events 
that  were  destined  to  roll  against  him.  The  almost  naked 
and  half-starved  condition  of  his  old  men,  women  and  chil- 
dren, together  with  the  gallant  and  intrepid  Major  Ilges, 
with  his  "  veteran  and  brave  frost-bitten  blue-coats,"  "  eager 


82  SUBJUGATING 

for  the  fray,"  arrayed  against  him,  were  the  real  causes 
which  led  to  his  unconditional  surrender.  The  capture  of 
this  indefatigable  and  uncompromising  warrior  was  the 
breaking  of  the  backbone  of  the  Indian  war  in  the  Sioux 
nation,  and  the  country  at  large  extends  a  vote  of  thanks  to 
the  veteran  Majors  Ilges  and  Brotherton  for  their  energy 
and  unswerving  perseverance  in  effecting  this  surrender. 

Capt.  Thos.  B.  Dewees,  of  the  2d  Cavalry,  also  took  an 
active  part  in  this  surrender, 'marching  from  Fort  Keogh 
with  his  troop,  most  of  the  time  in  snow  knee-deep,  with 
more  or  less  suffering  from  frost-bites,  and  at  one  time  being 
compelled  to  place  48  men  of  his  troop  in  the  hospital. 

He,  together  with  his  troop,  are  entitled  to  great  credit 
for  their  personal  bravery  and  enduring  the  hardships  of 
that  winter's  campaign.  Not  until  about  this  time  did  Chief 
Gaul  make  up  his  mind  that  he  had  better  begin  to  make 
his  peace  with  the  Federal  authorities.  In  a  message  to 
Major  Hges  at  one  time,  he  stated  in  his  dignified  but  insult- 
ing manner,  quite  characteristic  with  war  chiefs,  that  the 
white  dog  soldiers  would  not  fight  in  the  winter — too  cold 
weather — they  cried  too  much — placing  his  fingers  on  his 
face  and  eyes,  showing  how  the  tears  would  trickle  down 
their  faces,  saying  no  good  fight  in  cold  weather,  and  a- 
heap-o'-snow.  Little  did  this  artful  and  skillful  old  warrior 
dream  that  Major  Ilges  had  his  Gatling  guns  within  range 
with  plenty  of  canister  and  shell,  and  that  the  boys  in  blue 
were  ready  to  fire  by  platoons,  or  at  will.  But  such  was  the 
case,  and  it  required  but  a  very  short  space  of  time  to  con- 
vince Chief  Gaul,  to  his  entire  satisfaction,  that  it  was  best 
for  him  and  his  braves  to  make  an  unconditional  surrender, 
which  was  soon  effected,  but  not  until  a  few  shots  were  fired 
from  the  Gatling  guns  and  a  volley  or  two  of  musketry.  In 
response  to  this  call,  came  the  surrender  of  "  Chief  Gaul," 
together  with  all  the  lodges  that  were  with  him. 

Nothing  now  remained  to  be  done  to  close  the  Indian  war 
in  the  Northwest  but  to  capture  the  leading  chief,  "  Sitting 
Bull,"  who  was  still  behind  and  within  a  few  days'  march  of 
the  British  lines,  but  not  without  his  best  and  fleetest  ponies 
and  best  guns,  which  were  of  the  latest  and  most  improved 
patterns. 


THE    HOSTILES. 


83 


It  is  believed  in  military  circles  that  about  forty  lodges  of 
his  followers,  with  their  horses,  ponies  and  guns,  are  yet 
across  the  boundary  line,  even  now  since  the  surrender  of 
Bull  himself,  and  that  they  will  never  be  given  up  to  our 
authorities.  It  is,  however,  hard  to  conjecture  just  what 
course  he  will  drift  his  influence,  what  he  has  left,  with  this 
remnant  of  his  once  powerful  tribes,  that  held  sway  over  the 
entire  Sioux  nation. 

In  the  capture  of  "  Chief  Gaul,"  Major  Guido  Ilges  is  en- 
titled to  great  credit  for  his  personal  bravery  and  endurance 
in  the  field,  the  thermometer  varying  from  33  to  44  degrees 
below  zero,  also,  the  officers  and  men  alike  under  his  com- 
mand. Major  Ilges  is  a  Prussian  by  birth,  and  was  com- 
missioned in  the  regular  army  in  1861.  In  the  civil  war  he 
was  distinguished  for  gallantry  and  meritorious  services  in 
the  battles  of  the  "Wilderness"  and  "  Spottsylvania,"  Va., 
for  which  he  received  promotion  at  the  respective  times. 
He  is  one  of  the  bravest  and  most  conscientious  officers  on 
the  frontier,  and  the  people  in  the  Northwest  extend  him 
a  hearty  vote  of  thanks. 

Captain  Walter  Clifford,  who  received  Sitting  Bull  at  the 
time  of  his  surrender  in  the  field,  was  born  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  and  commenced  his  career  in  the  U.  S.  Army  in 
1860.  He  served  with  distinction  during  the  civil  war,  and 
was  promoted  for  gallant  and  meritorious  service  in  the 
battle  of  Chickamauga,  Ga.  He  is  a  Captain  in  the  7th  U.  S. 
Infantry,  has  experienced  his  share  of  hard  service  against 
the  hostile  Sioux  during  the  past  several  years,  and  is  highly 
esteemed  as  a  brave,  daring  and  gentlemanly  officer. 

Brevet-Brigadier-General  Thomas  H.  Euger,  Colonel  of 
the  18th  United  States  Infantry,  was  appointed  to  the  regu- 
lar army  in  1854.  He  was  promoted  several  times  during 
the  war  of  the  rebellion,  and  more  particularly  for  gallant 
and  meritorious  services  in  the  battles  of  "  Franklin,  Tenn., 
and  Gettysburg,  Pa."  He  was  at  one  time  commanding  offi- 
cer at  West  Point.  He  came  to  this  department  in  1878 
with  his  regiment,  taking  station  on  Milk  River,  M.  T.,  near 
the  extreme  northern  boundary  line,  and  has  since  built  the 
post  known  as  Fort  Assinaboine,  M.  T.  This  regiment  has 


84  SUBJUGATING 

done  hard  and  effective  service  in  the  field  since  it  canie  to 
this  department.  The  building  of  Forts  Assinaboine,  on 
Milk  River,  Ouster  and  Keogh,  on  the  Yellowstone,  really 
was  unlocking  the  doors  and  taking  possession  of  the  great 
Sioux  nation.  For  several  years  before  the  "  Battle  of  the 
Little  Big  Horn"  (1876),  Lieutenant-General  Sheridan  at 
different  times  recommended  the  establishment  of  these 
posts,  and  more  especially  the  two  latter,  in  order  that  our 
military  might  be  garrisoned  nearer  the  field  of  direct  ope- 
rations against  Sitting  Bull,  so  as  to  more  effectually  cope 
with  his  hostile  bands  and  war-parties,  then  scattered  over 
the  entire  Northwest,  and  it  was  not  until  after  that  memor- 
able battle  that  he  succeeded  in  getting  Congress  to  author- 
ize the  sum  and  make  the  proper  appropriations. 

So  it  will  be  seen  that  the  military  genius  and  foresight- 
edness  of  our  own  Field  General  was,  at  the  proper  time, 
more  than  equal  to  that  of  General  Sitting  Bull.  Sheridan 
was  hampered  by  Congress,  while  Sitting  Bull  could  act 
with  a  free  will  of  his  own,  unhampered  by  any  power  save 
the  forces  that  were  contending  against  him.  His  authority 
was  supreme,  and  he  fully  commanded  the  situation. 

To  return  to  the  field  officers  of  the  18th  Infantry,  there 
is  Henry  S.  Black,  the  Lieutenant-Colonel  of  the  regiment, 
who  entered  the  regular  army  in  July,  1847,  from  the  Mili- 
tary Academy  at  West  Point,  and  was  promoted  at  different 
times  during  the  war  for  faithful  and  meritorious  services, 
and  at  one  time  was  the  Colonel  of  the  6th  California  Vol- 
unteers. 

Major  John  S.  Poland,  of  this  regiment,  was  appointed  to 
the  regular  army  in  May,  1861,  after  his  academic  course  at 
West  Point.  He  served  with  distinction  during  the  war  of 
secession,  especially  in  the  battles  of  "  Antietam  and  Shep- 
ardstown  Ford,  Md.;  Fredericksburg  and  Chancellorville, 
Va.";  and  has  been  stationed  in  Northern  Dakota  and  Mon- 
tana most  of  the  time  since  1872,  and  for  years  belonged  to 
the  6th  U.  S.  Infantry  that  was  also  stationed  in  this  depart- 
ment for  several  years.  Major  Poland  has  been  command- 
ing officer  at  three  several  posts  in  this  section  of  the  coun- 
try, and  has  always  been  considered  a  very  cautious  and 


THE   HOSTILES.  85 

good  administrative  officer.     He  is  strictly  moral  and  tem- 
perate, and  a  genial  officer  and  gentleman. 

Major  E.  B.  Kirk,  Assistant-Quartermaster  in  charge  of 
depot  of  supplies  and  army  transportation,  has  been  sta- 
tioned at  Bismarck  and  Fort  Buford  for  the  past  several 
years,  and  has  held  a  very  important  position,  having  charge 
of  forwarding  supplies  to  the  front  by  both  river,  rail  and 
overland  trains.  He  was  appointed  to  the  regular  army  from 
Ohio,  and  was  promoted  during  the  civil  war  for  faithful  and 
meritorious  services  in  the  Q.  M.  department  and  in  the 
field.  He  is  an  energetic,  faithful  officer,  and  at  all  times 
has  a  watchful  eye  over  the  affairs  in  his  department. 

Among  the  many  distinguished  field  officers  who  have 
done  very  great  and  efficient  service  outside  of  this  military 
department,  which  has  had  a  good  and  wholesome  effect  up- 
on the  Indians  all  along  the  frontier  to  the  northern  bound- 
ary line,  is  Brevet-Major-General  Benjamin  H.  Grierson, 
Colonel  of  the  10th  U.  S.  Cavalry.  His  operations  against 
the  Kiowas,  Comanches  and,  worst  of  all,  the  most  horrid 
and  filthy  wild  Apaches,  have  had  a  most  telling  effect  upon 
the  various  tribes  outside  of  the  particular  section  of  coun- 
try that  his  operations  have  principally  been  confined  to. 
General  Grierson  entered  the  volunteer  army  in  1862,  as 
Major  of  a  regiment  of  cavalry  from  the  State  of  Illinois,  and 
for  gallant  and  faithful  service  during  the  war  he  was  pro- 
moted several  times,  and  in  1867  he  was  made  a  Brevet-Ma- 
jor-General for  special  gallant  and  meritorious  services  in 
the  raid  through  the  entire  State  of  Mississippi.  Many  read- 
ers of  this  volume  will  well  remember  the  famous  cav- 
alry raider  that  penetrated  central  Mississippi,  crossing  the 
Tallahatchie  with  his  Brigade  of  Light  Horse  Cavalry  at 
midnight  and  marching  on  to  the  Balize  in  a  most  daring 
and  fearless  manner.  It  was  announced  at  the  time  that 
this  raid  very  nearly  broke  the  backbone  of  the  rebellion. 
His  most  distinguished  services  of  late  have  been  in  operat- 
ing against  Yictorio's  band  of  wild  Apaches  along  the  Rio 
Grand  river  and  in  old  Mexico,  of  which  the  country  have 
been  advised  at  various  times.  He  came  into  the  State  of 
Kansas  with  his  regiment  in  1868,  and  has  ever  since  been 


86  SUBJUGATING 

in  active  service  subjugating  the  hostiles  and  protecting  the 
settlers  on  the  frontier.  He  is  strictly  moral  and  temperate, 
unpretending,  and  one  of  the  best  of  army  disciplinarians. 
The  officers  of  his  regiment  are  faithful,  brave  and  zealous 
as  those  of  any  in  the  army.  They  have  experienced  hard  and 
continuous  service  in  subjugating  the  hostiles  in  the  south- 
ern Indian  country,  and  more  especially  the  wild  Apaches, 
Kiowas  and  Comanches,  and  for  gallant  and  meritorious 
services  they  are  entitled  to  a  vote  of  thanks. 

The  reader  in  carefully  studying  the  first  section  of  this 
volume,  "  General  Yan  Couvnor,"  will  be  able  to  form  a  very 
fair  conclusion  in  regard  to  the  various  and  arduous  duties 
that  have  been  devolved  upon  General  Grierson  and  the 
officers  of  the  10th  Cavalry  since  1868. 


CHAPTEK  III. 

TJie  First  Photograph  of  Sitting  Butt,  and  His  Age. 

While  the  writer  is  making  every  effort  to  procure  facts 
and  such  matter  as  will  be  of  interest  to  his  readers,  he  is 
just  at  this  time  in  doubts  about  perfecting  his  plans  to 
have  Sitting  Bull  sit  for  his  photograph.  Never  up  to  this 
time  has  he  been  situated  so  that  one  could  be  taken.  It  is 
expected  that  he  will  come  down  from  Fort  Buford  on  the 
steamer  "General  Sherman,"  en  route  to  the  Standing  Bock 
Agency,  where  he  and  most  of  his  tribes  will  remain  for  a 
time.  I  have  arranged  with  a  photographer,  at  quite  a  large 
expense,  to  go  down  on  the  steamer  and  secure  the  first 
photo  that  has  ever  been  taken  of  our  surrendered  red 
brother. 

A.  river  pilot  just  down  from  Fort  Buford  states  that  the 
old  chief  is  quite  reticent  and  sullen.  He  recognized  him, 
however,  saying  he  always  had  a  good  and  warm  heart  for 
river  men,  and  finally  wanted  a  dollar  in  the  way  of  heap- 
good-friendship.  Soon  after  this  interview,  a  party  of  citi- 
zens, ladies  and  gentlemen,  called  upon  the  sullen  chief  at 
his  camp,  and  he  refused  to  come  out  for  the  purpose  of 
making  an  exhibition  of  himself,  and  after  exhausting  their 


TH3  HOSTILES.  87 

patience  and  persuasion  and  a-heap-o'-good-honey-tongued- 
coaxing,  as  the  cunning  warrior  would  phrase  it,  they  offered 
him  one  dollar  apiece  if  lie  would  come  out  and  talk  a  few 
moments,  but  he  stubbornly  and  very  sullenly  refused. 

Should  he  continue  to  be  stubborn  after  arriving  at  Stand- 
ing Rock,  we  of  course  will  fail  to  get  his  photo,  but  we 
intend  to  have  it,  that  is  if  it  can  be  had  by  any  reasonable 
amount  of  moral  persuasion,  as  he  would  say  himself,  "  this 
side  of  the  happy  hunting  grounds."  We  have  known  war- 
chiefs  to  act  stubbornly  for  many  months  after  they  had 
surrendered,  and  for  no  other  reason  only  it  was,  to  use 
their  own  phrase,  "  bad  medicine,  heap  bad ;  no  good." 
They  would  often  say  it  was  "  the  Great  Spirit  going  to 
strike  them,"  and  there  is  no  doubt  as  to  their  entertaining 
such  superstition  in  real  earnestness. 

The  writer  at  one  time  knew  of  a  photographer  who  went 
quietly  to  the  camp  of  a  once  leading  war  chief,  who  had 
already  surrendered,  and  covering  himself  and  his  apparatus 
with  a  blanket,  set  himself  to  work  trying  to  get  his  camera 
in  range,  when  all  at  once  he  heard  a  clicking  outside,  that, 
to  say  the  least,  sounded  not  at  all  agreeable,  and  at  once 
uncovering,  found  himself  modestly  arrayed  within  short 
range  of  the  stalwart  chief,  with  a  Spencer  carbine  in  hand, 
cocked  and  ready  for  instant  action.  Th6  cool-headed  and 
persuasive  photographer  succeeded  in  becoming  master  of 
the  situation,  by  gently  persuading  the  war  chief  that  he 
meant  nothing  wrong,  and  had  already  taken  a  score  or  more 
of  the  leading  war  chiefs,  all  of  whom  wero  well  pleased,  also, 
that  all  of  the  big  officers  in  the  army  had  their  pictures 
taken,  so  their  wives  and  children  and  the  great  father 
at  "Washington,  could  see  them.  Upon  this  statement  the 
old  chief  walked  down  to  the  rooms  of  the  photographer, 
and  sat  for  his  photo,  with  all  his  head-gear,  galligaskins 
and  other  toggery  that  helped  to  make  up  his  regalia,  in 
order  that  his  shapely  figure  might  take  a  position  alongside 
of  that  of  a  major-general,  saying  he  wanted  the  white  folks 
to  hang  his  pictures  on  the  wall  in  their  houses,  and  that 
he  would  take  two  to  Washington,  one  for  the  great  father, 
and  one  for  the  big  white  chief;  not  the  big  soldier  chiefs, 


88  SUBJUGATING 

meaning  Generals  Sherman  and  Sheridan,  but  the  red  man's 
friends,  President  Hayes  and  Secretary  Shurtz. 

The  question  of  securing  photos  of  warriors  just  after 
they  have  surrendered  may  be  quite  well  explained  in  the 
Indian's  own  language  :  "  May-be-so-a-heap-bad-medicine. 
May-be-so-white-man's-heart  -  a  -  heap  -  bad.  Great  -  Spirit- 
strike-red-man-too-quick."  As  the  Indians  are  at  times 
allowed  to  go  about  officers'  quarters  at  the  military  posts, 
and  visit  among  their  families  more  or  less,  this  prejudice 
and  superstition  has  gradually  worn  away,  so  that  in  most 
cases  the  photographer  in  time  has  but  little  trouble  in 
securing  their  photos,  even  from  those  most  stubborn  at 
first. 

If  we  secure  this  photo,  the  readers  of  this  book  will 
have  the  honor  and  pleasure,  if  such  it  is,  of  seeing  the  first 
and  only  one  that  has  ever  been  taken.  We  will  not  cease 
our  efforts  in  trying  to  procure  it,  and,  if  necessary,  will 
wait  several  days  before  passing  this  MSS.  into  the  hand& 
of  the  publisher. 

Of  our  military  officers  that  have  seen  Sitting  Bull  and 
conversed  with  him,  all  agree  in  saying  that  he  is  an  artful 
and  brave  warrior,  and  an  Indian  of  very  superior  ability, 
and  possesses  unusual  powers  of  endurance.  His  indomit- 
able energy  and  bull-dog  tenacity  has  drawn  toward  him 
the  utmost  respect  of  all  his  subordinate  chiefs  and  warriors, 
and  it  is  not  probable  a  surrender  would  have  been  effected 
for  some  time  to  come,  had  it  not  been  for  the  nearly  naked 
and  half-starved  condition  of  his  old  men,  women  and 
children. 

The  steamer  "  General  Sherman  "  has  just  landed  with 
Sitting  Bull  and  about  one  hundred  and  fifty  old  men, 
women  and  children,  including  about  thirty  warriors.  His 
father,  and  White  Bear,  a  handsome-looking  and  good- 
natured  chief,  accompany  him  as  close  attendants,  appar- 
ently as  staff  officers.  The  writer,  by  special  permission, 
boarded  the  steamer,  and  upon  entering  the  cabin  found 
"  standing  room  only,"  men,  women  and  children  of  all  ages, 
sizes  and  nationalities,  had  gathered  from  the  rural  districts 
and  adjacent  towns  in  the  surrounding  country,  composed 


THE   HOSTILES.  89 

the  audience,  all  of  whom  were  anxiously  waiting  their  turn 
to  "  shake  and  how  "  with  the  famous  old  war-horse.  The 
writer  considered  his  mission  and  intervieV  with  the  chief 
too  important  to  "get  left,"  and  at  once  mounted  a  chair  in 
the  front  end  of  the  cabin,  and  looking  over  the  surging; 
crowd,  at  last  caught  a  glimpse  of  a  row  of  six  Indians,  all 
sitting  at  the  left  side  of  the  cabin,  with  scout  Allison  stand- 
ing beside  Sitting  Bull.  I  succeeded  in  getting  through  the- 
crowcl  and  reaching  the  point  where  Allison  stood,  who  at 
once  gave  me  a  formal  introduction  to  "  Chief  Sitting  Bull," 
who  sat  in  a  chair  at  the  head  of  the  row.  Mr.  Allison,, 
knowing  that  I  was  concluding  my  last  chapter  of  this  book,, 
was,  in  his  always  courteous  manner,  very  obliging  to  me,, 
and  took  special  pains  to  tell  the  chief  that  I  was  the- 
"white  chief  of  a  book,"  and  an  old  Indian  trader.  The 
chief  looked  up  rather  smilingly,  and  at  the  same  time  ex- 
tending his  right  hand  and  drawing  his  blanket,  that  covered 
a  once  white  shirt,  more  closely  around  his  broad  shoulders, 
with  the  other,  said,  "  How."  I  at  once  returned  the  "how," 
and  then  made  some  signs  known  in  the  Southern  Indian 
language  as  "friendship,"  which  he  seemed  to  recognize 
at  once  and  rather  good-naturedly.  Preparatory  to  going 
on  the  steamer,  and  bent  upon  getting  his  photograph,  if 
possibly  within  the  reach  of  human  ingenuity,  I  put  in  my 
pocket  a  photo  of  my  own  (like  the  one  on  this  frontispiece), 
with  the  view  of  giving  it  to  him,  provided,  however,  I  found 
him  in  the  right  kind  of  humor,  knowing  very  well  the  preju- 
dices that  had  been  inculcated  from  the  aboriginal  pre- 
instruction  of  many  of  his  race. 

Upon  giving  him  the  photo,  "  White  Bear,"  who  sat  at  the- 
foot  of  the  semi-  circle  row,  looked  up  in  a  wishful  and  pleas- 
ing manner,  and  extending  his  hand  to  shake  said,  "  How,, 
how,"  evidently  much  pleased  to  meet  a  pale-faced  stranger 
who  could  talk  the  language  of  the  red  man  by  signs. 

After  extending  the  usual  "  shake  and  how  "  with  him,  I 
turned  to  Sitting  Bull's  father,  whose  Indian  name  is  "  Four 
Horns,"  who  was  very  reticent,  although  quite  good-natured. 
He  is  an  Indian  quite  under  medium  stature,  with  shoulders 
somewhat  bent  to  the  front,  and,  to  try  a  guess  on  his  age,. 


90  SUBJUGATING 

would  say  quite  close  to  seventy.  He  seemed  to  accept  his 
situation  quite  willingly,  at  the  same  time  showed  a  rather 
tiresome  air,  which  led  me  to  believe  that  he  was  actually 
tired  of  being  on  the  war-path,  and  only  too  glad  to  be  at 
peace,  and  no  doubt  thinks  it  better  for  him,  as  well  as 
others  of  his  age,  to  be  settled  upon  reservations,  where 
they  can  freely  partake  of  government  rations  and  draw 
their  annuity  goods  semi-annually,  even  if  "  the  bad  young 
braves  "do  go  out  in  raiding  parties  occasionally.  As  to 
the  latter,  ho  probably  cares  but  very  little,  and  will  never 
give  himself  any  uneasiness,  even  if  all  the  young  braves  on 
the  Missouri  River  should  turn  loose  upon  the  frontier ;  but 
as  far  as  he  is  personally  concerned,  there  is  no  question 
but  that  he  intends  to  live  quietly  upon  a  reservation  and 
abide  by  such  rules  and  laws  as  will  be  made  to  govern  it. 

In  turning  to  Sitting  Bull,  I  asked  Allison  if  he,  "  Bull," 
would  take  good  care  of  my  photograph,  whose  reply  was, 
"Yes,  he  is  glad  to  get  it  and  will  take  good  care  of  it." 
This  was  encouraging  to  the  writer,  thinking  it  might  stim- 
ulate him  to  have  his  own  taken  to  give  in  return,  as  is  char- 
acteristic with  leading  chiefs  to  make  a  return  present,  and 
more  so  when  his  heart  is  good  toward  the  donor.  We  bade 
him  good-by,  and  after  the  regular  "  shake  and  how,"  left 
the  steamer  in  order  to  make  room  for  others  who  were 
anxious  to  shake  with  the  chief,  and  we  must  say  he  would 
shake  hands  very  cordially  with  all  who  came  along,  paying 
especial  attention  to  the  ladies.  He  has,  it  is  said,  hereto- 
fore and  since  his  surrender  been  quite  indisposed  to  talk, 
and  rather  sullen,  saying  he  did  not  want  to  be  talked  to 
death  and  gloated  at.  He  wore  a  pair  of  green  wire  goggles, 
so  we  could  not  see  his  naked  eyes,  but  it  is  said  that  he 
has  a  pair  of  as  keen  eagle  eyes  as  ever  was  set  between  two 
high  cheek  bones  on  any  red  man  in  the  aboriginal  tribes. 
Up  to  this  time  we  have  hopes  of  getting  him  to  sit  for  his 
photo.  "We  now  witness  the  Professor  going  on  board  the 
steamer  with  his  camera  and  other  paraphernalia,  getting 
ready  to  make  the  first  attempt,  after  arriving  at  Standing 
Hock,  that  was  ever  made  to  secure  the  photograph  of  Sit- 
ting Bull,  but  still  entertaining  some  doubts  as  to  his  success, 


THE    HOSTILES. 


91 


— that  is  to  say,  until  after  lie  becomes  more  settled  and  re- 
conciled to  his  new  home.  The  chief  will  feel  quite  differ- 
ent after  arriving  at  the  agency  and  getting  rested,  as  well 
as  getting  out  of  the  way  of  the  hundreds  of  anxious  look- 
ers on,  and  besides,  he  will  meet  his  old  and  trusted  friends, 
"  Gaul  and  Crow  King,"  and  other  warriors  and  the  fami- 
lies he  has  so  often  inquired  after  since  he  surrendered. 

"We  expect  to  have  to  wait  from  three  to  seven  days  be- 
fore he  will  consent  to  sit,  and  if  we  fail  in  that  time,  we  will 
be  compelled  to  hand  our  manuscript  to  the  publisher  with- 
out it,  but  not  without  promising  to  have  it  ready  for  our 
second  edition.  Just  at  this  moment  it  is  discovered  that 
Sitting  Bull  has  consented  to  come  to  the  hotel,  and  take 
dinner  by  special  invitation  of  Mr.  Marsh,  the  popular  land- 
lord of  the  Merchants'  Hotel.  The  chief,  upon  nearing  the 
office  desk,  takes  out  a  little  old  worn  pencil  and  registers 
his  name  in  full,  with  hand  somewhat  trembling,  a  fac-simile 
of  which  was  secured  by  the  writer,  by  means  of  a  piece  of 
tracing-paper,  and  we  will  promise  that  it  shall  appear  un- 
der his  photo,  if  we  succeed  in  getting  it.  In  writing  Sitting 
Bull  has  received  some  instructions  at  various  times  from 
Mr.  Allison,  a  worthy  and  trusted  scout  who  has  been  in 
government  employ  a  number  of  years,  and  having  the  con- 
fidence of  the  officers  in  this  department.  He  is  a  man  of 
fine  education,  having  been  raised  and  schooled  in  Central 
New  York,  near  Utica,  and  later  years  has  been  in  govern- 
ment employ  as  scout,  and  interpreter  of  the  Sioux  language. 

In  regard  to  the  exact  age  of  Sitting  Bull  we  are  unable  to 
be  positive,  and  we  doubt  if  any  one  will  be  able  to  get  his 
right  number  of  years,  and  the  best  we  have  been  able  to 
learn  in  regard  to  it  is  as  follows  : 

In  the  year  1875  the  writer  was  informed,  by  an  ex-Indian 
agent,  that  he  was  then  forty -five  years  old,  which  would 
make  him  now  fifty-one.  Just  after  the  Custer  battle  on  the 
Little  Big  Horn,  it  was  reported  that  he  was  then  forty-two, 
which  would  make  him  now  forty- seven.  We  are  now  in- 
formed that  he  is  fifty-two,  and  we  are  inclined  to  believe 
the  latter  to  be  nearer  correct,  judging  from  his  looks.  That 
he  has  suffered  hardships  and  privations  we  all  know,  and 


92 

lie  has  evidently  taken  remarkably  good  care  of  himself,  as 
he  shows  a  fine  and  healthy-looking  countenance. 

His  own  statement  to  Mrs.  Captain  Harmon  seems  to  make 
him  48 — that  is  as  near  as  he  and  his  father  can  guess  and 
recollect. 

Mrs.  Harmon,  while  interviewing  him  on  the  steamer 
"General  Sherman,"  asked  him  his  age,  and  his  reply  was  he 
thought  he  was  47.  Mrs.  Harmon,  it  appears,  had  some 
knowledge  that  led  her  to  believe  that  he  was  older,  and 
said,  "  Don't  you  think  you  are  48,"  and  his  reply  was  that 
he  didn't  know  exactly,  but  he  knew  that  he  was  a  little 
older  than  "  Roaring  Thunder,"  and  just  at  this  time  "  Four 
Horns,"  father  of  the  Chief,  said,  "  Roaring  Thunder  is  46 
and  you  are  a  little  older — may-be-so-makes-you-48."  This, 
is  probably  the  clearest  and  most  reliable  statement  that 
has  ever  been  obtained  from  Sitting  Bull  by  any  white  per- 
son in  regard  to  his  age,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  his 
sincerity  in  all  he  stated  to  Mrs.  Harmon,  as  he  appeared 
very  much  interested,  and  at  times  made  friendly  gestures 
that  evinced  great  earnestness  and  friendship. 

It  is  almost  impossible  to  get  the  exact  age  of  any  Indian 
that  has  been  roaming  with  the  hostile  bands,  as  they  be- 
come more  or  less  confused,  and  ofttimes  entirely  lost  in 
keeping  the  count,  which  is  usually  done  as  follows : 

When  a  child  is  born,  the  mother  takes  a  stick  of  no  great 
size  and  cuts  a  notch  on  one  side  of  it,  and  from  that  time 
thereafter  it  is  the  intention  to  cut  a  notch  at  the  end  of 
every  moon  (a  moon  is  a  mouth),  and  knowing  that  twelve 
months  make  a  year,  and  when  twelve  notches  are  cut  in  this 
stick  they  then  select  a  tree  or  another  stick,  and  cut  a  notch 
in  it  which  denotes  one  year.  We  can  now  readily  see  that 
if  they  get  confused  in  making  the  notches,  they  are,  of 
course,  more  than  likely  to  lose  the  exact  age,  and  then  they 
have  to  depend  upon  the  memory  of  the  older  ones  in  the 
family  or  lodges  to  help  them  guess  and  remember. 

Only  four  days  after  the  interview  with  Mrs.  Harmon, 
when  interviewed  by  an  officer  at  "  Standing  Rock,"  he  gave 
his  age  44,  and  said  he  was  born  near  old  Fort  George,  011 
Willow  Creek,  below  the  mouth  of  Cheyenne  River.  Next 


THE   HOSTILES.  93 

to  himself,  he  considers  "Four  Horns,"  who  is  his  father, 
the  greatest  living  chief.  Many  years  ago  his  father  was 
known  as  the  famous  chief,  "  Jumping  Bull."  He  says  he 
never  committed  any  depredations  in  the  white  man's  coun- 
try, and  that  he  did  not  surrender,  but  only  came  in  to  stay 
a  few  days,  and  now  wants  the  government  to  let  him  go ; 
that  he  never  made  a  treaty  nor  sold  any  land,  nor  made 
war  on  the  white  man's  government.  He  says  he  has  been 
on  the  war-path  since  he  was  fourteen  years  old  ;  and  pre- 
vious to  that  time,  and  since  he  was  old  enough,  he  killed 
buffalo  most  of  the  time,  giving  all  of  his  surplus  meat  to 
the  old  men  and  women  that  were  poor  and  too  old  to  hunt. 
It  is  generally  admitted  that  he  is  very  tender-hearted  and 
affectionate  toward  the  old  men,  women  and  children  of  all 
the  tribes  in  the  Sioux  nation,  and  the  real  reason,  together 
with  his  bravery  and  artfulness,  of  his  gaining  such  a 
stronghold  in  the  hearts  of  his  people,  has  been  on  account 
of  his  extreme  generosity  and  kind  feelings  toward  them 
when  in  distress.  He  has  always  showed  a  disposition  to 
share  equally  with  them  the  hardships  and  sufferings  they 
have  had  to  endure  ;  and  it  is  a  noted  fact  that  the  great 
majority  of  the  Indians  throughout  the  Sioux  country  have 
a  warm  corner  in  their  hearts  for  Sitting  Bull. 

He  says  he  is  a  chief  by  inheritance,  has  two  living  wives 
and  nine  children,  two  of  whom  are  twins.  It  is  not  only  a 
noticeable  but  a  very  amusing  fact  that  he  makes  various 
reports  and  conflicting  statements  to  the  different  interview- 
ers ;  having  watched  his  reports  with  great  care  from  time 
to  time  since  his  surrender,  and  are  unable  to  discover  any 
two  alike  as  regards  to  the  same  question  when  being  asked 
"by  different  parties  ;  but  as  he  now  gets  pay  for  his  "  words 
and  big  talk,"  perhaps  he  thinks  he  should  give  to  each  in- 
terviewer a  different  statement.  The  writer  intends  to  see 
him  before  many  weeks,  and  have  a  hearty  laugh  over  his 
various  and  speculative  interviews.  We  are  inclined  to 
think,  however,  the  old  chief  will  only  laugh  and  say,  "  the 
white  folks  are  all  the  time  a-trying  to  fool  him  and  his  peo- 
ple, and  I  thought  it  just  as  well  to  have  a  little  fun  by  my- 
self and  see  how  they  would  like  it  to  be  fooled."  That  is 


94  SUBJUGATING 

about  as  much  as  lie  or  any  other  Indian  cares  about  mak- 
ing a  false  statement  to  white  people.  Another  statement 
made  in  regard  to  his  family  was  that  he  had  two  good  wives, 
loved  one  as  much  as  the  other,  and  by  them  both  had 
seventeen  children,  seven  of  whom  were  by  his  last  or  sec- 
ond wife,  and  six  of  them,  the  youngest,  were  three  pair  of 
twins. 

He  seems  very  much  attached  to  one  of  his  daughters,  who 
ran  away  from  him  last  winter,  eloping  with  a  young  brave 
who  had  become  tired  of  taking  his  rations  of  buffalo  meat 
on  the  open  prarie  in  the  deep  snow,  and  wisely  concluded 
to  come  in  and  partake  of  Uncle  Sam's  hospitality  at  an 
agency  provided  especially  for  him  and  his  people. 

It  is  said  that  he  mourned  very  much  over  the  elopement, 
and  at  times  would  writhe  in  anger,  claiming  that  she  and 
"  Pretty  Plume,"  his  wife,  were  the  two  handsomest  squaws 
among  the  Sioux ;  and  in  fact  we  may  truthfully  say  that 
"  Pretty  Plume  "  is  really  a  handsome  and  queenly-looking 
squaw,  and  if  she  were  a  white  woman,  and  favored  with  the 
usual  facilities  for  an  education  and  moral  training,  etc.,  etc., 
she  would  be  a  reigning  belle  in  society.  The  chief  claims 
that  white  people  induced  his  daughter  to  elope,  and  before 
he  had  surrendered,  some  scalawag  had  led  him  to  believe 
(at  least  he  so  pretended)  that  our  officers  at  "  Fort  Yates  " 
had  her  confined  in  irons,  and  in  one  of  his  statements  regard- 
ing his  surrender,  he  said  he  did  not  want  to  come  in  to  sur- 
render, but  came  to  see  his  girl  who  was  in  irons  at  "  Stand- 
ing Rock  Agency,"  and  now  wants  the  government '  to  let 
him  go  back ;  but  as  we  have  said  before,  he  makes  a  great 
many  statements,  and  as  a  general  thing  no  two  are  alike. 

All  there  is  about  it,  nothing  but  starvation  and  naked- 
ness among  his  people  ever  forced  him  and  his  remnant  band 
of  followers  to  come  in  and  surrender.  He  made  up  his 
mind  to  take  the  step  he  did,  not  because  he  wanted  to,  but 
because  he  and  his  people  were  starved  out.  There  was  no 
game,  no,  nothing,  absolutely  nothing,  for  them  to  live  on. 

He  had  wandered  around  and  over  a  desolate  country, 
where  thousands  of  buffalo  and  antelope  once  roamed,  and 
now  not  a  track  to  be  seen.  Eighteen  or  twenty  years  he 


THE   HOST1LES.  951 

has  waged  unceasing  warfare  against  the  whites,  and  it  is 
admitted,  not  only  by  his  own  people,  but  by  our  military 
authorities,  and  Western  men  generally,  who  have  had 
means  of  knowing  the  facts,  that  he  is  the  boldest,  most 
malignant  and  artful  of  all  the  cunning  war  chiefs,  from  the 
Rio  Grande  to  the  Northern  boundary  line.  But  the  chief 
has  surrendered,  thus  relinquishing  all  his  rights  to  the 
sturdy  pioneer  and  ranchmen  of  the  Western  plains. 

In  order  that  you  may  form  an  idea  of  an  Indian  chant, 
poetry  and  the  "  prayer  of  a  squaw,"  we  furnish  the  exact 
words,  as  translated  by  an  interpreter  soon  after  the  final 
surrender  of  the  chief  : 

Be  brave,  my  friends,  be  brave. 

The  white  men  have  brought  us  food  ; 

They  will  not  hurt  us  ; 

Their  hearts  are  full  of  pity  for  us, 

My  father  and  my  mother,  be  not  afraid, 

Your  hunger  once  more  is  stayed, 

And  there  is  still  food  in  abundance. 

My  brother  and  my  sister,  comb  your  hair, 

And  paint  your  faces  with  vermilion, 

For  the  Great  Spirit  has  softened 

The  hearts  of  our  enemies,  and  they  feed  us  with  food. 

He  has,  within  the  writer's  knowledge,  given  three  dis- 
tinct accounts,  and  no  two  of  them  alike,  of  Ouster's  last 
battle  against  him  in  the  valley  of  the  Little  Big  Horn, 
and  there  can  be  no  doubt  as  to  his  first  report  being  in 
the  main  correct.  It  was  about  as  follows  : 

He  heard  the  long-haired  chief  and  his  soldiers  were 
coming,  and  he  sent  out  thirty  young  men  on  the  day  before 
the  battle,  and  that  night  twenty  of  them  returned  and  re- 
ported the  white  soldiers  coming,  and  he  then  told  hi& 
braves  and  all  his  old  and  young  men  to  get  ready  for  battle. 
On  the  morning  of  the  battle  seven  more  of  the  young  men 
came  in  and  said  the  soldiers  were  closing  in  upon  their  vil- 
lage, and  not  long  afterwards  the  remaining  three  came  in. 
and  reported  the  whole  column  of  cavalry  in  sight,  and  he 
then  sent  the  women  and  children  away,  and  before  they 
had  been  gone  long  the  white  soldiers  made  their  first 
charge,  and  just  at  this  time  his  wife  came  running  back, 


96  SUBJUGATING 

saying  she  was  so  badly  scared  that  she  forgot  her  baby.  He 
at  once  brought  the  little  one  from  his  tepee,  and  giving  it 
to  his  wife  and  telling  her  to  run,  he  then  turned  toward  his 
braves,  who  were  just  resisting  a  bold  and  gallant  charge 
made  by  Ouster  at  the  head  of  his  men.  He  then  raised  a 
pole  with  a  flag,  and  at  the  top  of  his  voice  shouted,  "  I  am 
Sitting  Bull,  the  big  chief  and  leader  of  all  the  Sioux  war- 
riors." His  men  had  but  little  trouble  in  driving  our  col- 
umn back,  and  every  charge  that  was  made  by  our  men  after 
that  was  met  and  checked  by  his  braves,  and  those  not 
killed  on  the  field  were  driven  back  into  new  positions ;  and 
when  the  cavalry  was  finally  reduced  in  numbers  to  a  hand- 
ful of  men,  they  all  rallied  to  where  Ouster  stood,  and  then 
the  fighting  was  soon  over,  they  all  falling  nearly  at  the 
same  time. 

He  then  gave  orders  to  go  over  to  the  other  band,  mean- 
ing "  Major  Reno's  command,"  leaving  the  squaws  on  the 
field,  which  was  near  their  village. 

It  is  supposed  by  those  who  came  upon  the  field  first 
after  the  battle,  that  just  at  this  period  some  one  of  the 
chiefs  gave  orders  not  to  mutilate  Ouster's  body,  and  also 
made  a  mark  across  his  nose  and  cheeks  for  a  notice  to  the 
squaws  to  that  effect,  which  was  obeyed  ;  hence  we  find 
Ouster's  body  not  mutilated. 

The  chief  further  stated  in  this  report  that  Reno  and  his 
whole  command  would  have  shared  the  fate  of  Ouster  had 
it  not  been  for  the  arrival  of  "  Terry  and  Gibbon  "  with  re- 
inforcements. 

Another  report  he  gives  about  as  follows :  saying  he  sent 
his  wife  and  child  out  back  to  hide  and  then  started  to  go 
over  where  they  were  fighting,  and  just  then  a  heavy  shock 
of  thunder  and  many  sharp  streaks  of  lightning  struck  the 
whole  of  Ouster's  command,  and  that  was  what  killed  so 
many  men,  and  when  the  thunder  was  over,  his  warriors 
killed  all  there  was  left. 

Another  statement  is,  that  after  his  braves  had  killed 
nearly  all  of  Ouster's  men,  he  told  them  to  cease  firing,  as 
they  had  killed  men  enough,  but  they  still  insisted  upon 
wiping  out  the  whole  command,  and  then  Ouster's  men 


THE    HOSTILES.  97 

made  such  fearful  charges  they  had  to  kill  them  all  in  order 
to  save  their  own  lives  and  their  women  and  children.  Now, 
it  is  more  than  probable  that  his  first  report  is  the  nearest 
correct,  as  it  compares  very  favorably  with  the  two  made  by 
"  Crow  King  and  Low  Dog,"  at  Standing  Rock,  only  a  few 
days  after  the  surrender  of  the  chief.  It  is  doubtful  if  we 
ever  arrive  at  the  actual  facts  in  relation  to  that  battle  any 
nearer  than  is  embraced  in  those  three  reports,  which  in- 
cludes the  first  one  made  by  the  chief,  and  those  two  by 
Crow  King  and  Low  Dog  respectively,  who  were  leading 
war  chiefs  in  the  fight. 

We  have  never,  up  to  this  time,  heard  of  thunder  and 
lightning  making  an  attack  on  a  battalion  of  cavalry,  nor  are 
we  willing  to  believe  that  Sitting  Bull  ordered  his  wrarriors 
to  cease  firing,  at  the  same  time  telling  them  they  had  killed 
men  enough,  and  that  the  soldiers  were  not  to  blame,  as 
they  were  told  to  do  so  and  were  fighting  under  orders  from 
their  government,  etc.,  etc. 

Such  action  on  his  part  is  not  one  of  his  characteristics, 
nor  is  it  consistent  with  his  mode  of  warfare  against  either 
white  men  nor  his  red  brethren,  for  only  a  month  or  six 
weeks  before  his  surrender  he  annihilated  a  small  band  of 
Nez  Perces,  some  seventeen  in  number.  This,  however,  has 
recently  come  to  light.  In  1877,  when  the  Nez  Perces  sur- 
rendered to  General  Miles,  a  small  band  escaped  and  fled  to 
Sitting  Bull's  band  across  the  boundary  line,  and  it  appears 
of  late  they  drifted  away  from  the  Sioux  warriors.  "We  are 
at  the  present  time  unable  to  get  the  exact  facts  in  regard 
to  the  trouble,  but,  as  far  as  we  can  learn,  a  sudden  quarrel 
broke  out  in  the  lodges  and  the  Nez  Perces  were  killed  to  a 
man. 

Sitting  Bull's  report  that  he  "  ceased  firing  "  is  only  a  lame 
Indian  plea  in  the  shape  of  begging  for  mercy,  thinking  our 
authorities  will  be  more  lenient  with  him  should  he  be  for- 
tunate enough  in  making  them  believe  that  he  really  did 
save  the  lives  of  some  of  the  survivors  of  Custer's  last  battle. 
He  has  mustered  his  ingenuity  in  this  plea,  thinking  it  will 
be  the  means  of  drawing  an  additional  amount  of  mercy  to 
that  already  shown  him.  We  will  soon  show  how  it  was 


98  SUBJUGATING 

that  he  happened  to  be  so  humane  and  thoughtful  as  to  give 
his  much  talked-about  order,  and  just  at  this  particular 
time,  to  "  cease  firing." 

It  was  the  day  after  Ouster  fell  that  our  men  came  on  the 
hill  and  at  once  discovered  that  Ouster's  body  was  not  muti- 
lated, and  a  mark  had  been  made  across  his  cheeks  and  nose, 
just  below  his  eyes.  This  was  done  by  some  one  of  the 
leading  chiefs  as  a  notice  to  the  squaws  that  this  body  must 
not  be  mutilated  on  account  of  his  bravery ;  and  well  they 
knew  and  felt  it,  for  over  one  hundred  empty  cartridge 
shells  were  found  near  by  where  his  feet  had  stood  just  be- 
fore he  fell,  and  there  can  be  no  doubt  but  that  he  brought 
down  many  a  warrior  before  he  fell.  It  so  happened  that 
Major  Reno  found  that  he  was  overpowered,  and  being  fore- 
sighted  enough  to  entrench  himself,  was  thus  enabled  to 
hold  at  bay  the  unrelenting  hordes  until  Generals  Terry  and 
Gibbon  came  to  his  relief,  and  just  about  this  time  the  chief 
no  doubt  did  give  an  order  to  retreat  and  also  to  cease  firing. 
At  all  events  he  retreated  to  the  hills  in  a  very  short  space  of 
time,  which  was,  of  course,  done  to  save  his  own  men  instead 
of  Reno's,  who  were  entrenched,  and  were  alone  giving  him 
a  hot  battle. 

As  before  stated,  the  writer  has  taken  no  little  pains  in 
procuring  facts  from  the  most  reliable  sources  at  his  com- 
mand, and  at  the  same  time  has  been  very  cautious  in  arriv- 
ing at  conclusions,  in  order  to  get  at  actual  facts  and  cir- 
cumstances as  they  have  transpired  during  this  important 
campaign,  and  must  say  that  not  until  the  present  time  have 
we  been  able  to  get  an  Indian  account  of  the  Ouster  battle 
from  their  own  lips  any  way  satisfactory,  or  that  looked  half 
way  reasonable. 

We  have  quite  recently  noticed  an  account  given  by  two 
leading  chiefs,  "  Crow  King  and  Low  Dog,"  both  subordi- 
nates under  Sitting  Bull,  and  were  in  the  "  Ouster  battle." 
It  appears  that  Captain  Howe,  at  Fort  Yates,  or  more  gen- 
erally known  as  the  "  Standing  Rock  Agency,"  succeeded  in 
getting  a  voluntary  statement  from  these  two  chiefs,  and  it 
is  the  clearest  and  most  satisfactory  account  that  is  known 
to  have  been  given  by  Indians  who  knew  the  facts.  We 


THE   HOSTILES.  99 

have  known  Captain  Howe  since  1873,  and  know  him  to  be 
a  most  upright  and  conscientious  officer  and  gentleman,  and 
would  not  allow  himself  to  stoop  to  anything  that  had  a 
shadow  of  trickery  or  falsehood  about  it.  He  is  highly 
respected  by  the  Indians,  and  more  particularly  on  account 
of  his  being  at  all  times  strict,  yet  just,  and  very  obliging. 

The  readers  can  now  have  the  latest  and  most  authentic  In- 
dian account  that  ever  has  been  procured  by  a  white  person. 

Captain  Howe  has,  during  the  eight  years  just  past,  been 
in  command  of  several  military  posts  on  the  Missouri  River, 
and  has  the  reputation  of  managing  Indians  with  great 
credit  to  himself,  and  general  satisfaction  to  them.  It  will 
be  remembered  that  "  Crow  King  and  Low  Dog  "  surrender- 
ed last  winter,  after  being  driven  and  forced  by  the  frost- 
bitten troops  under  "  Major  Ilges,"  near  Fort  Buford,  and 
have  since  had  opportunities  to  get  acquainted  with  the 
officers,  and  have,  without  doubt,  made  a  very  correct 
account  of  "  Custer's  last  battle." 

Low  Dog  said  :  "  We  were  in  camp  near  Little  Big  Horn 
River.  We  had  lost  some  horses  and  an  Indian  went  back 
on  the  trail  to  look  for  them.  We  did  not  know  that  the 
white  warriors  were  coming  after  us.  Some  scouts  or  men 
in  advance  of  the  warriors  saw  the  Indian  looking  for  the 
horses,  and  ran  after  him  and  tried  to  kill  him,  to  keep  him 
from  bringing  us  word  ;  but  he  ran  faster  than  they,  and 
came  into  camp  and  told  us  that  the  white  warriors  were 
coming.  I  was  asleep  in  my  lodge  at  the  time.  The  sun 
was  about  noon  (pointing  with  his  finger).  I  heard  the 
alarm,  but  I  did  not  believe  it.  I  thought  it  was  a  false 
alarm.  I  did  not  think  it  possible  that  any  white  men  would 
attack  us,  so  strong  as  we  were.  We  had  in  our  camp  the 
Cheyennes,  Arrapahoes,  and  seven  different  tribes  of  the 
Teton  Sioux — a  countless  number.  Although  I,  did  not  be- 
lieve it  was  a  true  alarm,  I  lost  no  time  getting  ready.  When 
I  got  my  gun  and  came  out  of  my  lodge,  the  attack  had  be- 
gun at  the  part  of  the  camp  where  Sitting  Bull  and  the  Un- 
capapas  were.  The  Indians  held  their  ground  to  give  the 
women  and  children  time  to  get  out  of  the  way.  By  this 
time  the  herders  were  driving  in  the  horses,  and  as  I  was 


100  SUBJUGATING 

nearly  at  the  further  end  of  the  camp  I  ordered  my  men  to 
catch  their  horses  and  mount.  But  there  was  much  confu- 
sion. The  women  and  children  were  trying  to  catch  their 
horses  and  get  out  of  the  way,  and  my  men  were  hurrying 
to  go  and  help  those  that  were  fighting.  When  the  fighters 
saw  that  the  women  and  children  were  safe,  they  fell  back. 
By  this  time  my  people  went  to  help  them,  and  the  less  able 
warriors  and  the  women  caught  horses  and  got  them  ready, 
and  we  drove  the  first  attacking  party  back,  and  that  party 
retreated  to  a  high  hill.  Then  I  told  my  people  not  to  ven- 
ture too  far  in  pursuit,  for  fear  of  falling  into  an  ambush. 

By  this  time  all  the  warriors  in  our  camp  were  mounted 
and  ready  for  fight,  and  then  we  were  attacked  on  the  other 
side  by  another  party.  They  came  on  us  like  a  thunderbolt. 
I  never  before  nor  since  saw  men  so  brave  and  fearless  as 
those  white  warriors.  We  retreated  until  our  men  got  all 
together,  and  then  we  charged  upon  them.  I  called  to  my 
men,  'This  is  a  good  day  to  die;  follow  me.'  We  massed 
our  men,  and,  that  no  man  should  fall  back,  every  man 
whipped  another  man's  horse,  and  we  rushed  right  upon 
them.  As  we  rushed  upon  them  the  white  warriors  dis- 
mounted to  fire,  but  they  did  very  poor  shooting.  They  held 
their  horses'  reins  on  one  arm  while  they  were  shooting,  but 
their  horses  were  so  frightened  that  they  pulled  the  men  all 
around,  and  a  great  many  of  their  shots  went  up  in  the  air 
and  did  us  no  harm.  The  white  warriors  stood  their  ground 
bravely,  and  none  of  them  made  any  attempt  to  escape  or 
get  away.  After  all,  but  a  few  of  them  were  killed  ;  I  cap- 
tured two  of  their  horses.  Then  the  wise  men  and  chiefs  of 
our  nation  gave  out  to  our  people  not  to  mutilate  the  dead 
white  chief,  for  he  was  a  brave  warrior  and  died  a  brave 
man,  and  his  remains  should  be  respected.  Then  I  turned 
round  and  went  to  help  fight  the  other  white  warriors,  who 
had  retreated  to  a  high  hill  on  the  east  side  of  the  river. 
(This  was  Reno's  command.)  I  don't  know  whether  any 
white  men  of  Ouster's  force  were  taken  prisoners.  When  I 
got  back  to  our  camp  they  were  all  dead.  Everything  was 
in  confusion  all  the  time  of  the  jfight.  I  did  not  see  General 
Custer.  I  do  not  know  who  killed  him.  We  did  not  know 


THE    HOSTILES.  101 

till  the  fight  was  over  that  he  was  the  white  chief.  We  had 
no  idea  that  the  white  warriors  were  coming  until  the  run- 
ner came  in  and  told  us.  I  do  not  say  that  Reno  was  a  cow- 
ard. He  fought  well,  but  our  men  were  fighting  to  save 
their  women  and  children,  and  drove  them  back.  No  white 
man  or  Indian  ever  fought  as  bravely  as  Ouster  and  his  men. 
The  next  day  we  fought  Eeno  and  his  forces  again,  and 
killed  many  of  them.  Then  the  chiefs  said  these  men  had 
been  punished  enough,  and  that  we  ought  to  be  merciful, 
and  we  let  them  go.  Then  we  heard  that  another  force  was 
coming  up  the  river  to  fight  us  (Gen.  Terry's  command),  and 
we  started  to  fight  them,  but  the  chiefs  and  wise  men  coun- 
seled that  Ave  had  fought  enough,  and  that  we  should  not 
fight  unless  attacked,  and  we  went  back  and  took  our  women 
and  children  and  went  away." 

Having  heard  Low  Dog's  story  of  the  fight,  I  concluded  I 
would  try  to  get  an  account  from  other  chiefs,  and  going 
with  an  interpreter  to  the  Indian  camp,  approached  Chief 
Gaul  first.  He  said  if  he  knew  anything  he  would  tell  it, 
but  he  denied  that  he  was  in  the  fight.  He  said  he  was 
helping  the  women  catch  the  horses,  and  took  no  other  part. 
If  he  thought  I  believed  that,  he  mistook  his  man,  and  I 
shall  try  him  again.  Rain-in-the-Face  refused  to  talk.  I 
then  called  on  Crow  King,  a  chief  of  the  Uncapapas,  Sitting 
Bull's  tribe,  and  a  noted  warrior.  He  has  a  good  face,  and 
wields  great  influence  over  the  Indians.  He  is  one  of  the 
few  chiefs  who  speak  well  of  Sitting  Bull.  After  some  little 
talk,  he  came  up  to  the  fort  and  gave  me  his  story : 

"  We  were  in  camp,  not  thinking  there  was  any  danger  of 
a  battle,  although  we  had  heard  that  the  long-haired  chief 
had  been  sent  after  us.  Some  of  our  runners  went  back  on 
our  trail,  for  what  purpose  I  do  not  know.  One  came  back 
and  reported  that  an  army  of  white  soldiers  was  coming,  and 
he  had  no  more  than  reported  when  another  runner  came  in. 
with  the  same  story,  and  also  told  us  that  the  command  had 
divided,  and  that  one  party  was  going  round  to  attack  us  on 
the  opposite  side.  The  first  attack  was  at  the  camp  of  the 
Uncapapas  tribe.  The  shots  neither  raised  nor  fell.  (Here 
he  indicated  that  the  whites  commenced  firing  at  about  400 


102  SUBJUGATING 

yards  distance.)  The  Indians  retreated — at  first  slowly,  to 
give  the  women  and  children  time  to  go  to  a  place  of  safety 
Other  Indians  got  our  horses.  By  that  time  we  had  war- 
riors enough  to  turn  upon  the  whites,  and  we  drove  them  to 
a  hill  and  started  back  to  camp.  Then  the  second  band  of 
white  warriors  came.  We  did  not  know  who  was  their 
chief,  but  we  supposed  it  was  Ouster's  command.  This 
party  commenced  firing  at  long  range  (indicating  nearly  a 
mile).  We  had  then  all  our  warriors  and  horses.  There 
were  80  warriors  in  my  band.  All  the  Sioux  were  there 
from  every  tribe.  We  had  warriors  plenty  as  the  leaves  on 
the  trees. 

"  Our  camp  was  as  long  as  from  the  fort  to  the  lower  end  of 
our  camp  here  (more  than  two  and  a  half  miles).  Sitting 
Bull  and  Crazy  Horse  were  the  great  chiefs  of  the  fight. 
Sitting  Bull  did  not  himself  fight,  but  he  gave  orders.  We 
turned  against  this  second  party.  The  great  body  of  our 
warriors  came  together  in  their  front,  and  we  rushed  our 
horses  on  them.  At  the  same  time  warriors  rode  out  on 
each  side  of  them  and  circled  round  them  till  they  were  sur- 
rounded. When  they  saw  that  they  were  surrounded  they 
dismounted.  They  tried  to  hold  on  to  their  horses,  but  as 
we  pressed  closer  they  let  go  their  horses.  We  crowded 
them  towards  our  main  camp  and  killed  all.  They  kept  in 
order  and  fought  like  brave  warriors  as  long  as  they  had  a 
man  left.  Our  camp  was  on  Greasy  Grass  River  (Little 
Big  Horn).  When  we  charged,  every  chief  gave  the  cry, 
'Hi-yi-yi.'  (Here  Crow  Chief  gave  us  the  cry  in  a  high 
prolonged  tone.  When  this  cry  is  given  it  is  a  command  to 
all  the  warriors  to  watch  the  chief  and  follow  his  actions.) 
Then  every  chief  rushed  his  horse  on  the  white  soldiers,  and 
all  our  warriors  did  the  same,  every  one  whipping  another's 
horse.  There  was  great  hurry  and  confusion  in  the  fight. 
No  one  chief  was  above  another  in  that  fight.  It  was 
not  more  than  half  an  hour  after  the  long-haired  chief 
attacked  us  before  he  and  all  his  men  were  dead.  Then  we 
went  back  for  the  first  party.  We  fired  at  them  until  the 
sun  went  down.  We  surrounded  them  and  watched  them 
all  night,  and  at  daylight  we  fought  them  again.  We  killed 


THE    HOSTILES.  103 

many  of  them.  Then  a  chief  from  the  Uncapapas  called  our 
men  off.  He  told  them  those  men  had  been  punished 
enough,  that  they  were  fighting  under  orders,  that  we  had 
killed  the  great  leader  and  his  men  in  the  fight  the  day 
before,  and  we  should  let  the  rest  go  home.  Sitting  Bull 
gave  this  order.  He  said :  '  This  is  not  my  doings  nor  these 
men's.  They  are  fighting  because  they  were  commanded  to 
fight.  We  have  killed  their  leader,  let  them  go.'  I  call  on 
the  Great  Spirit  to  witness  what  I  say.  We  did  not  want  to 
fight.  Long  Hair  sent  us  word  that  he  was  coming  to  fight 
us,  and  we  had  to  defend  ourselves  and  our  wives  and  chil- 
dren. If  this  command  had  not  been  given  we  could  have 
•cut  Reno's  command  to  pieces,  as  we  did  Ouster's.  No 
warrior  knew  Ouster  in  the  fight.  We  did  not  know  him, 
dead  or  alive.  When  the  fight  was  over  the  chiefs  gave  or- 
ders to  look  for  the  long-haired  chief  among  the  dead,  but 
no  chief  with  long  hair  could  be  found."  (Ouster  had  his 
hair  cut  short  before  starting  on  this  march.) 

Crow  King  said  that  if  Reno  had  held  out  until  Terry  and 
Gibbon  came  and  then  fought  as  Ouster  did,  they  would 
have  whipped  the  Indians.  The  Indians  would  then  have 
been  compelled  to  divide  to  protect  their  women  and  chil- 
dren, and  the  whites  would  have  had  the  advantage.  He 
expressed  great  admiration  for  the  bravery  of  Ouster  and 
his  men,  and  said  that  that  fight  impressed  the  Indians  that 
the  whites  were  their  superiors,  and  it  would  be  their  de- 
struction to  keep  on  fighting  them.  Both  he  and  Low  Dog 
said  they  did  not  feel  that  they  would  be  blamed  for  the 
Ouster  fight  or  its  results.  It  was  war  ;  they  were  attacked ; 
Ouster  tried  to  kill  them  ;  they  killed  him.  Crow  King  said 
he  had  two  brothers  killed  in  the  fight ;  from  30  to  50  Indi- 
ans were  killed,  and  a  much  larger  number  who  were 
wounded  died  afterward. 


104  SUBJUGATIIs7G 


"LOUIS,"  OLDEST  SON  OF  SITTING  BULL,  AND  HIS  WIFE, 

ZUZELA. 

Upon  the  opposite  page  appears  a  life  likeness  of  "  Louis," 
a  son  of  Chief  Sitting  Bull,  about  twenty-three  years  of  age, 
and  through  the  kindness  of  young  C.  K.  Peck,  Jr.,  whose 
father  was  an  old  Indian  trader,  we  are  permitted  to  take  a 
"fac  simile"  of  his  signature,  which  was  secured  from  Louis 
while  he  was  en  route  from  Fort  Buford  to  Standing  Bock, 
early  last  spring,  on  the  steamer  "General  Terry."  He  also 
wrote  his  wife's  name,  Zuzela,  as  will  also  be  noticed. 

After  Louis  was  surrendered  to  Major  Ilges  last  winter, 
he  rendered  almost  invaluable  service  to  that  officer  in  the 
way  of  giving  information  and  acting  as  a  mounted  scout, 
and  it  is  possible  he  may  remain  quiet  and  continue  his 
good  services  to  the  government ;  and  it  is  just  as  possible 
he  may  skip  out  with  a  marauding  band  of  discontented 
braves  and  join  a  small  war-party.  He  will,  however,  be 
influenced  in  a  great  measure  by  the  leading  chiefs,  also  by 
Sitting  Bull  himself. 

The  writer  places  these  autographs  before  the  reading 
public  merely  to  sljow  that  the  average  class  of  Indians  of 
both  sexes,  below  t'he  age  of  say  twenty-five,  are,  in  a  great 
measure  to  be  considered  yet  in  the  hands  of  the  military, 
the  philanthropists  and  teachers. 

It  will  readily  be  seen  that  the  untutored  children,  of 
the  forest  will  no  doubt  make  very  marked  progress  in 
our  elementary  branches  of  study,  with  proper  encour- 
agement and  good  moral  training.  The  younger  class, 
say  below  the  age  above  mentioned,  are  generally  quite 
ingenious  and  apt  in  learning,  and  those  that  have  not  been 
wholly  demoralized  by  the  older  warriors  and  leading  chiefs, 
there  are  strong  hopes  of  fair  to  good  results  in  trying  to 
educate  them.  We  are  frank  to  state  that,  from  our  own 
personal  knowledge,  we  are  able  to  say  that  there  is  a  very 
general  and  marked  improvement,  which  already  shows  the 


^A 


THE   HOSTILES.  105 

results  of  the  so  very  persistent,  but  generous  philanthrop- 
ists and  teachers,  who  have  so  bravely  stemmed  the  tide  of 
opposition  all  along  the  frontier.  As  is  already  shown  at 
the  various  Indian  agencies,  there  are  numerous  classes  of 
half  and  full  grown  Indians  of  both  sexes,  who  are  quite 
well  advanced  in  reading  and  writing,  and  as  they  grow 
older  they  seem  to  take  quite  an  interest  in  farming  and 
stock  raising,  and  we  must  say  with  considerable  less  reluc- 
tance than  many  of  our  white  brothers,  after  taking  the 
advice  of  the  veteran  Horace  Greeley  to  "  go  West,  young 
man,  go  West." 

While  writing  this  article,  we  beg  to  state  that  in  turning 
our  eyes  to  the  left,  and  looking  out  of  a  certain  window  in 
Printing  House  Square,  wre  gaze  upon  the  scene  of  the  life 
labors  of  Horace  Greeley,  (the  Tribune  building),  the  moral 
adviser  to  the  young  men  of  the  country,  as  well  as  the  old, 
and  just  now  imagine  if  his  voice  could  be  heard  from  be- 
neath the  sepulchre,  he  would  speak  in  louder  tones  than 
ever,  "Young  man,  go  West,"  but  don't  forget  ivhat  to  do  when 
you  get  there. 

As  to  the  philanthropists  and  teachers  who  have  paved 
the  way  into  the  Indian  country,  and  have  made  such  com- 
mendable strides  toward  educating  the  red  men  of  the  plains, 
we  can  only  say  that  they  are,  to  say  the  least,  entitled  to  a 
vote  of  thanks  from  the  country  at  large,  and  should  be  not 
only  encouraged  by  the  Government,  but  well  paid  for  their 
services.  There  is  no  longer  any  doubt  as  to  the  final  suc- 
cess of  their  workings  and  teaching,  both  morally  and 
physically. 


106  SUBJUGATING 


CHAPTEK  IV. 

Sitting   BuWs  first  visit  to  a  ivliite  man's  city — Bismarck. —  On 
the  steamer  "  General  Sherman." 

Sitting  Bull's  visit  to  Bismarck  was  anything  but  satisfac- 
tory to  him,  more  particularly  on  account  of  being  deprived 
of  visiting  the  residence  of  Captain  William  Harmon.  It 
will  be  remembered  that  this  was  the  first  white  man's  town 
or  city  that  Sitting  Bull  was  ever  in,  and  he  certainly  was 
entitled  to  respectful  treatment.  It  appears  that  Mrs.  Har- 
mon's mother,  Mrs.  Galpin,  was  an  old  acquaintance  of  his, 
many  years  ago,  and  he  has  known  for  years  that  her  daugh- 
ter married  Captain  Harmon. 

As  soon  as  the  steamer  landed,  Captain  Harmon  started 
in  his  carriage,  taking  Mrs.  H.  along  as  far  as  the  church, 
and  then  proceeded,  with  one  of  his  little  sons,  to  the  boat. 
The  chief  was  more  than  glad  to  see  him,  and  after  the  usual 
"  hearty  shake,  and  how,"  the  captain  then  said,  "  This  is  my 
second  son;"  to  which  the  chief  replied,  "I  am  poor,  and 
have  nothing  to  give  you,  only  my  name,"  taking  the  hat 
from  the  boy's  head  and  writing  his  name  quite  plainly  on 
the  "inside,  and  said,  "  if  I  had  anything  more  to  give,  I 
would  give  it  to  you  ;"  and  then  said  to  the  captain,  "  you 
ought  to  bring  your  wife  down  to  the  boat,"  saying  he  had 
known  her  mother  for  many  years.  The  captain  said  he  had 
left  her  at  church,  but  as  he  was  going  straightway  home, 
he  would  take  her  along;  and  when  he,  the  chief,  came  up 
into  the  city,  he  wanted  him  to  come  to  his  residence  ;  to 
which  the  chief  replied,  that  he  would  be  glad  to  come,  and 
would  do  so,  if  they  would  let  him.  But  it  appears  his  wish 
was  not  granted,  for  reasons  known  only  to  those  who  had 
him  in  charge,  and  prevented  him  from  going  there. 

Captain  Harmon,  upon  arriving  at  his  house — a  richly  fur- 
nished mansion  in  the  suburbs  of  the  city — together  with 
his  accomplished  and  queenly  wife,  set  themselves  about 
preparing  a  lunch,  such  as  sandwiches,  lemonade,  etc.,  etc., 


THE    HOSTILES.  107 

and  thereupon  waited  the  arrival  of  the  "  chief."  The  par- 
ties in  charge  of  the  reception,  however,  thought  best  not  to 
allow  him  to  go  there,  for  reasons  not  by  them  explained, 
and  at  the  same  time  not  showing  even  a  faint  disposition 
to  care  anything  about  the  personal  wishes  of  "  Sitting 
Bull." 

The  chief  felt  very  much  disappointed,  as  well  as  deeply 
mortified  at  this  chagrin,  and  Mrs.  Harmon  was  at  once  sent 
for.  Upon  her  arrival  on  board  the  steamer  "  General  Sher- 
man," the  usual  "  shake  and  how,"  as  a  matter  of  course, 
came  first,  and  the  chief  was  indeed  glad  to  see  Mrs.  H.  The 
chief  had  known  her  mother  since  his  boyhood,  and  he 
seemed  to  act  and  talk  very  free — inquiring  about  many 
things  that  had  transpired  within  the  past  few  years  in  that 
section  of  the  country,  and  expressed  himself  as  perfectly 
satisfied  with  her  answers  and  explanations. 

The  good  lady  said  to  him,  "  Don't  you  think  it  would 
have  been  better  for  you  and  your  people  if  you  had  come 
in  and  surrendered  in  1867,  as  you  were  told  to  do  ?"  To 
which  he  answered,  "  Yes,  I  think  it  might  have  been  bet- 
ter, but  as  me  and  my  people  was  born  in  this  country,  I 
always  considered  it  belonged  to  me,  and  do  yet ;  and  I 
never  would  have  come  in,  only  for  the  sake  of  my  women 
and  children,  and  did  not  come  in  because  I  wanted  to." 

Mrs.  Harmon  speaks  the  Sioux  language  fluently,  and  the 
chief  knew  that  she  was  one  among  only  a  very  few  white 
ladies  in  the  world  that  can  speak  and  understand  his  lan- 
guage in  all  its  phases.  In  the  early  days  of  the  chief  he 
learned  the  French  language  to  quite  an  extent  from  "  French 
traders  "  that  visited  his  section  of  the  country  for  the  pur- 
pose of  trading,  and  who  generally  came  from  the  British 
possessions. 

Now  the  writer  does  not  in  the  least  manner  feel  disposed 
to  question  the  conduct  of  any  particular  parties,  but  will 
merely  suggest,  now  that  Sitting  Bull  is  in  the  hands 
of  the  proper  officials,  fully  and  properly  surrendered 
in  accordance  with  all  demands  made  upon  him  by  the 
proper  authorities,  he  be  treated  with,  to  say  the  least,  com- 
mon decency,  all  of  which  he  is  certainly  entitled  to,  for  we 


108  SUBJUGATING 

must  admit  that  the  war  was  forced  upon  him  and  his  peo- 
ple for  no  other  reason  only  for  the  advancement  of  our 
noble  Saxon  race. 

The  idea  of  forcing  him  into  a  common  puppet  show  in 
different  places,  much  to  his  displeasure,  was,  to  say  the 
least,  very  disgusting  to  him  and  wholly  uncalled  for.  No 
wonder  he  said  he  thought  the  white  folks  were  making 
fools  of  themselves  in  forcing  him  into  a  position  to  be 
sneered  and  laughed  at. 

It  must  be  borne  in  mind  that  Sitting  Bull  has  not  less 
than  twenty-five  hundred  braves,  all  of  whom  are  able- 
bodied  warriors,  and  are  now  within  his  call,  and  all  the 
while  he  is  submitting  so  quietly  to  the  powers  that  be,  it 
is  well  enough  to  consider  that  it  is  not  impossible  that 
plans  will  be  laid  and  carried  into  effect  within  his  .apparent 
deaf  ear,  which  may  be  the  means  of  calling  out  the  entire 
force  under  command  of  General  Sheridan ;  and  we  again 
suggest  that  the  artful  old  chief  be  dealt  with  in  a  fair  and 
respectable  mariner,  and  be  allowed  to  receive  such  treat- 
ment as  he  is  entitled  to. 

In  the  way  of  a  gentle  hint  as  to  what  might  happen,  the 
writer  respectfully  refers  to  the  first  section  of  this  volume, 
"  General  Yan  Couvnor,"  where  the  leading  war-chiefs  were 
in  council  at  a  "  peace  commission,"  and  at  the  same  time 
the  young  warriors  were  raiding  in  Texas,  capturing  women, 
children,  horses  and  mules,  and  it  is  fair  to  presume  that 
similar  scenes  may  be  enacted  on  the  frontier  plains  of 
Dakota  and  among  the  ranchmen  in  the  hills  of  Montana,  as 
it  was  on  the  borders  of  Kansas  and  Texas. 

The  writer  does  not  propose  to  dictate  nor  even  suggest  a 
policy  to  be  pursued  by  our  authorities,  but  modestly  claims 
the  right  to  state  what  possibly  might  occur,  judging  from 
facts  and  precedents  already  established  on  our  frontier ;  and 
in  the  meantime  we  have  no  reason  to  apprehend  that  there 
will  be  any  napping  or  negligence  while  Sitting  Bull  and  his. 
warriors  are  being  herded  and  cared  for. 


THE    HOSTILES.  109 

CHAPTEK  Y. 

A  Careful  Review  of  the  Present  Situation, 

A  careful  view  of  the  situation,  and  a  glance  over  the  list 
of  field  officers  that  have  been  on  duty  in  the  Northwest  for 
the  purpose  of  subjugating  the  Sioux  nation  and  cutting  the 
way  through  the  bad  lands  and  over  the  plains,  in  order  to 
cross  the  continent  on  this  line — running  nearly  mid-way  be- 
tween the  46th  and  47th  parallel  of  north  latitude — it  will 
at  once  be  seen  that  no  insignificant  amount  of  military 
genius  and  executive  ability  has  been  arrayed  in  the  new 
Northwest  to  accomplish  this  final  and  most  satisfactory  re- 
sult, that  the  country  may  justly  feel  so  proud  of. 

Any  one  of  the  above-mentioned  officers,  if  called  upon  to 
take  command  of  an  army  corps  of  twenty  thousand  men, 
would  not  shrink  from  the  responsibility,  but  would,  judg- 
ing from  their  past  career  and  from  laurels  already  won  in 
many  a  hard-fought  battle — some  in  civil  war  and  others  in 
Indian  wars  on  the  frontier — would  discharge  the  various 
and  onerous  duties  devolved  upon  them  in  a  manner  becom- 
ing an  officer  in  the  American  army. 

We  have  had  on  duty  in  the  Northwest  a  greater  portion 
of  the  time  since  1873,  between  thirty  and  forty  field  officers 
and  over  two  hundred  officers  of  the  line,  with  about  three 
thousand  men  in  the  ranks,  to  confront  the  hostiles  of  the 
Sioux  nation.  In  addition  to  the  above,  we  must  add  the 
list  of  army  surgeons,  artificers,  mechanics,  teamsters  and 
laborers  at  the  various  military  posts ;  also  Indian  scouts 
and  interpreters ;  all  of  which  will  number  not  less  than 
three  hundred,  and  at  times  would  swell  the  number  to  over 
seven  hundred. 

We  will  now  call  the  attention  of  our  readers  to  the  fact 
that  the  officers  of  the  line  in  all  of  the  regiments  above 
mentioned,  and  others  that  have  been  on  duty  in  the  North- 
west during  our  Indian  troubles,  have  shared  no  less  of  the 
hardships  and  dangers  than  their  superiors  mentioned  in 
this  volume.  En  reyk  ;  selon  Us  regies,  de  jure.  In  speaking 
generally,  we  must  say  that  their  heroic  conduct  on  the 


110  SUBJUGATING 

field  and  their  industry  and  faithful  services  entitles  them 
to  volumes  of  credit  and  a  general  vote  of  thanks  from  their 
countrymen,  many  of  whom  are  sure  to  follow  in  the  west- 
ern path  that  is  now  in  a  great  measure  paved  for  civilization. 

In  making  special  mention  of  officers,  the  writer  does  not 
consider  it  his  proper  mission,  strictly  speaking,  to  give  the 
record  of  army  officers,  as  this  work  is  not  intended  for  an 
army  register,  but  we  think  it  not  out  of  place  to  make  men- 
tion of  some  of  the  material  facts  connected  with  the  history 
of  the  officers  who  have  taken  an  active  part  in  this  long 
and  vexatious  Indian  war  that  is  now  terminated,  in  order 
to  more  fully  illustrate  to  our  readers  that  our  Indian  diffi- 
culties have  been  managed  by  officers  not  only  of  long  and 
varied  experience  in  both  civil  and  Indian  warfare,  and  as 
their  records  show,  they  have  proved  themselves  industri- 
ous, zealous  and  faithful  to  the  various  trusts  imposed  upon 
them,  as  well  as  proving  themselves  equal  to  the  emergen- 
cies that  have  suddenly  arisen  before  them  from  time  to  time 
during  the  several  years  just  past,  and  some  of  whom  have 
been  constantly  engaged  against  the  hostile  savages  since 
the  close  of  the  civil  war. 

The  successful  management  of  the  various  campaigns  since 
the  battle  of  the  "  Little  Big  Horn,"  in  1876,  and  the  well- 
trained  discipline  throughout  the  rank  and  file  of  the  troops 
in  this  department,  reflects  great  credit  upon  the  sagacious 
and  conscientious  Department  Commander,  Brig.-General 
Alfred  H.  Terry,  and  his  staff  of  skilled  and  gentlemanly 
officers.  It  must  not  be  inferred  that  we  hold  General  Terry 
responsible  for  the  result  of  the  Little  Big  Horn  battle. 
Far  from  it.  Certain  high  officials  at  Washington,  in  order 
to  give  vent  to  their  personal  spite,  detained  the  column 
nearly  or  quite  a  month,  thereby  giving  Sitting  Bull  an 
opportunity  of  enormous  magnitude  to  recruit  his  forces 
from  the  various  tribes  throughout  the  West  and  Northwest, 
all  of  which  swelled  his  hostile  army  that  awaited  in  the 
valley  of  the  Little  Big  Horn  only  to  meet  the  gallant  Custer, 
who  was  known  among  the  Indians  all  the  way  from  the 
"Brazos  to  the  Yellowstone,"  as  the  "Long-Haired  Chief," 
thus  enabling  him  to  mow  down  the  brave  troopers  of  the 


THE    HOSTILES.  Ill 

7th  Cavalry,  with  Ouster  at  the  head,  by  platoons  and  com- 
panies, as  they  were  found  on  the  field  lying  in  regular 
winrows,  sleeping  the  sleep  that  none  but  dauntless  soldiers 
do. 

Our  countrymen  throughout  the  land  ought  to  speak  in 
loud  tones  and  say  to  the  veterans,  officers  and  brave  men  of 
their  respective  commands,  that  have  stood  the  brunt  of  a 
score  or  more  of  hard-fought  Indian  battles  and  skirmishes 
on  the  plains  all  along  the  frontier,  from  tho  Gulf  of  Mexico 
to  the  British  Possessions,  and  who  have  with  stout  hearts 
buried  hundreds  of  their  heroic  brothers  that  were  mowed 
down,  not  only  man  by  man,  but  by  companies  and  battal- 
ions, whose  bones  now  lie  mouldering  under  the  sod  of  the 
green  earth,  some  in  the  valley  of  the  Washita,  and  others 
in  the  lonely  valley  of  the  Little  Big  Horn,  with  scarce  a 
rude  head-board  that  well  might  read,  Here  lies  a  man  that 
nobly  lived  and  bravely  died  in  honor,  glory  and  fame,  that 
his  white  brothers  might  follow  in  the  peaceful  paths  of 
civilization.  Yes.  Well  might  the  country  at  large,  in  one 
loud  voice  say  to  those  brave  officers  and  men,  Well  done, 
good  and  faithful  servants,  you  have  opened  the  way  for 
Christian  civilization  that  is  sure  to  follow  in  your  foot- 
steps. Your  tents,  camp  equipage  and  other  paraphernalia 
used  in  wars,  also  the  tepees  of  the  savage  warrior  must  now 
make  room  for  the  onward  march  of  civilization,  with  its 
churches,  school-houses  and  teachers. 

Instead  of  hearing  the  oft-heard  war-whoop  and  murder- 
ous yells  of  the  hideous  savages  on  the  battle-field  and  the 
retort  by  our  Gatling  guns  and  musketry,  and  the  loud  cheer- 
ing of  our  brave  boys  in  blue,  you  will  hear  the  persuasive 
eloquence  of  the  kind-hearted  theologian  and  the  knightly 
young  schoolmaster,  pleading  the  cause  of  Christianity  and 
education ;  and  where  Sitting  Bull  ofttimes  held  his  medicine 
lodges  and  war  dances  on  the  banks  of  the  Little  Missouri 
and  Little  Big  Horn  Rivers,  for  no  other  purpose  only  to 
strengthen  and  bolster  up  the  hearts  of  hundreds  of  Gall- 
hearted  warriors,  and  urge  them  on  to  cold-blooded,  heart- 
rending and  blood-thirsty  murders,  you  will  see  stately 
court-houses,  with  their  benches  occupied  by  the  ablest 


112  SUBJUGATING 

jurists  in  the  land  to  mete  out  justice,  and  members  of  the 
bar  ably  advocating  and  defending  the  cause  of  peace  and 
good  order. 

The  energetic,  sturdy,  powerful  and  unconquerable  Saxon 
race  have  decided  that  this  country  cannot  afford  to  set 
aside  an  area  of  territory  large  enough  to  make  three  States 
the  size  of  New  York  for  the  sustenance  of  a  single  chief  and 
his  hostile  bands  of  warriors.  The  fate  of  the  "  king  war- 
rior "  is  decreed.  The  final  unconditional  surrender  of  Sit- 
ting Bull  is  an  event  in  American  history,  and  more  espe- 
cially so  for  the  reason  of  it  being  the  summary  turning 
point  of  transformation  of  the  native  aborigines  of  the  once 
powerful  Sioux  nation.  Our  military  will  no  longer  be 
waging  costly  and  bloody  wars  against  his  hostile  and  pow- 
erful hordes  to  subdue  their  rebellious  and  murderous  on- 
slaughts against  the  onward  march  of  our  Saxon  civilization 
that  manifest  destiny  has  decreed  shall  dominate  on  this 
continent. 

He,  with  his  tribes  and  marauding  bands  of  demoralized 
and  half-starved  followers,  will  be  watched  with  vigilant 
eyes,  but  kindly  cared  for  by  the  munificent  agents  of  the 
Interior  Department,  assisted  by  a  corps  of  large  and  open- 
hearted  philanthropists,  whose  duties  will  not  only  in  a 
measure  be  encouraged,  but  rigidly  enforced  by  the  author- 
ity of  our  powerful  but  ever  humane  and  magnanimous  gov- 
ernment. There  is  no  longer  a  formidable  tribe,  or  an  asso- 
ciation of  tribes,  of  hostile  Indians  within  the  territory  of 
the  United  States. 

It  is  fair  to  presume  that  Sitting  Bull  will  be  kept  under 
military  surveillance  upon  some  one  of  the  military  posts 
for  awhile  and  then  put  upon  an  agency.  His  followers 
will  be  divided  among  the  various  Indian  agencies,  and  the 
old  chief  will  have  to  resign  himself  into  insignificance  and 
rest  contented  in  thinking  that  he  once  was  the  supreme 
and  powerful  ruler  over  the  once  powerful  tribes  of  the 
Sioux  nation. 

At  the  same  time  it  is  just  as  fair  to  presume  that  many  a 
young  and  discontented  warrior  that  once  raided  and  fought 
under  the  plumed  Sitting  Bull  may  think  agency  rations 


THE    HOSTILES.  113 

somewhat  stale,  and  the  quiet  and  monotonous  life  about 
Uncle  Sam's  agencies  quite  too  common  for  a  young  and 
dashing  warrior,  and  after  seeing  an  opportunity  to  mount 
themselves  and  secure  a  belt  full  of  long  range  ammunition, 
start  off  on  a  raid,  perhaps  to  join  other  bands,  for  no 
other  purpose  only  to  roam  from  one  section  of  the  country 
to  another,  save  to  kill  a  few  buffalo  and  run  off  small  herds 
of  stock.  Vigilant  eyes  will  have  to  be  kept  upon  them  un- 
til they  become  more  contented  and  better  familiarized  with 
the  ways  of  white  people.  There  is,  however,  a  decided  im- 
provement in  the  advancement  of  the  Indian  from  one  year 
to  another.  The  young  and  yet  warlike  braves  will  have  to 
be  gradually  tamed,  now  that  they  have  surrendered,  and  it 
will  take  no  little  amount  of  moral  persuasion  to  keep  them 
within  the  bounds  of  peace  and  good  behavior.  We  may 
look  for  the  best,  and  at  the  same  time  place  confidence  in 
the  ability  of  our  trustworthy  officers  who  have  them  in 
•charge. 


114:  SUBJUGATIXG 


SEGTTONW. 

"CTJSTEK'S   LAST  KALLY." 


The  Painting  in  the  Studio. —  Walt  Whitman's  Account. — Me- 
moriam  by  Judge  J.  S.  Carvell. — Rain-in-the-Face. 

That  our  readers  may  be  able  to  appreciate  the  interest 
that  has  been  taken  over  this  ever-memorable  battle,  we 
make  note  of  some  facts  connected  with  it,  in  order  to  show 
that  some  of  the  ablest  authors  in  prose  and  poetry,  also 
artists  of  great  repute,  have  bent  their  energies,  ability  and 
skill  in  securing  the  real  facts  as  they  were  connected  with 
"  Ouster's  last  battle." 

A  description  of  this  battle  has  been  heralded  throughout 
the  land  in  nearly  or  quite  all  of  the  journals,  and  read  by 
every  fireside,  and  almost  numberless  paintings,  chromos, 
engravings  and  various  other  life-like  illustrations  adorn 
the  walls  to-day  of  almost  untold  numbers  of  art  galleries, 
drawing  rooms,  studios,  and  public  places  ;  but  never  has 
there  been  produced  a  painting,  chromo  or  engraving  that 
will  compare  with  the  one  now  nearly  finished  and  owned 
by  Mr.  John  Mulvany,  recently  from  Kansas  City,  Mo.  The 
writer  remembers  that  during  the  summer  of  1880  Mr. 
Mulvany  was  making  his  tour  throughout  the  Northwest, 
visiting  the  Custer  battle-field,  the  different  military  posts 
and  Indian  agencies,  in  order  to  get  views  and  facts  con- 
nected with  the  battle,  such  as  would  enable  him  to  paint 
upon  canvas  a  real  life-like  picture  of  the  several  survivors, 
who,  up  to  this  time,  were  withstanding  the  desperate 
charges  that  were  repeatedly  made  by  the  almost  countless 
numbers  of  blood-thirsty  savages.  After  receiving  the  de- 
sired information  from  officers,  scouts  and  Indians  who  had 
survived  the  battle,  he  proceeded  to  Kansas  City,  were  he 
opened  his  studio,  and  remained  there  perfecting  his  work 


THE    HOSTILES.  115 

until  early  in  this  present  summer,  when  he  proceeded  with 
his  painting  to  Boston,  remaining  there  one  month,  and 
then  proceeded  with  his  painting,  nearly  finished,  to  New 
York  City,  where  he  now  is,  completing  his  work.  It  is  sup- 
posed that  he  moved  his  painting  from  Boston  to  New  York 
City  so  as  to  be  nearer  Mrs.  Custer,  who  resides  in  the  latter 
city,  in  order  to  enable  him  to  get  a  more  correct  knowledge 
of  the  intellectual  features  of  the  General  and  the  officers 
and  several  others  who  were  known  to  have  been  in  "  the  last 
rally." 

The  writer,  upon  hearing  that  Mr.  Mulvany  was  in  the 
city,  at  once  commenced  making  inquiries  as  to  his  location, 
and,  much  to  his  surprise,  could  get  no  information.  We 
asked,  to  say  the  least,  several  dozen  prominent  artists  and 
newspaper  reporters,  all  of  whom  would  have  been  likely  to 
know,  had  it  not  been  for  the  strict  secrecy  that  Mr.  Mul- 
vany has  been  keeping  himself  in ;  but  after  exhausting  all 
of  my  spare  time  and  patience,  and  nearly  all  hope  of  find- 
ing him  or  his  painting,  my  mind  at  once  dropped  upon  a 
certain  individual,  who  I  found  in  the  seventh  story  of  a 
certain  building,  and  it  was  but  a  few  moments  before  I 
was  in  his  presence,  making  my  usual  inquiry  in  regard  to 
the  whereabouts  of  "  Mulvany  and  his  painting  ;"  and,  in  a 
very  gentlemanly  manner,  after  taking  the  second  thought, 
said,  "  If  you  can  find  Mr.  Walt  Whitman,  you  will  be  quite 
likely  to  get  the  information  you  desire,  as  he  is,  I  think, 
the  only  man  in  the  city  that  knows  the  precise  location. 

Soon  after  this  interview  I  was  informed  that  Mr.  Whit- 
man was  out  of  the  city,  and  I  at  once  addressed  a  note  to 
him,  and  promptly  by  return  mail  I  received  the  informa- 
tion that  I  had  so  persistently  worked  to  obtain  for  four 
successivo  days,  and  all  of  this  time  could  not  imagine  why 
such  strict  secrecy  was  resorted  to.  I  was  not  long,  how- 
ever, in  finding  the  building,  and,  after  reaching  the  top  of 
the  first  flight  of  stairs,  I  approached  the  janitor  and  in- 
quired if  Mr.  Mulvany  was  on  the  top  floor  with  his  paint-, 
ing.  He  replied  that  he  was,  but  it  was  no  use  for  me  to  go 
up  there,  as  I  would  not  be  admitted,  and  besides  he  had 
received  orders  not  to  allow  any  one  to  go  up  there. 


116  SUBJUGATING 

By  tliis  time  the  writer  had  reached  half-way  up  the  sec- 
ond flight  in  a  leisurely  manner,  and  the  more  we  insisted 
upon  going  up,  the  more  anxious  was  the  janitor  to  explain 
why  he  must  not  allow  any  one  to  enter  upon  the  upper 
floor ;  but  we  slowly  gained  the  top  of  the  flight,  and,  sud- 
denly turning  around  the  banister,  shot  up  the  second  flight, 
taking  about  four  steps  only,  in  order  to  escape  from  the 
janitor  as  soon  as  possible. 

After  ascending  two  more  flights  we  found  the  door  open- 
ing into  Mr.  Mulvany's  studio.  He  seemed  glad  to  receive 
a  representative  from  the  frontier,  and  more  especially  so  on 
account  of  my  coming  from  so  near  the  scene  exhibited  on 
the  canvas  which  hung  upon  the  wall  before  me,  covering  a 
space  of  about  22X12  feet.  He  at  once  placed  a  chair  for  me 
to  sit  in  at  a  distance  of  about  thirty  feet  from  the  painting, 
and  at  the  first  glance  my  eyes  were  of  course  brought 
directly  upon  the  soldierly  and  most  natural-looking  figure 
of  "  Major-General  George  A.  Custer,"  with  his  huge  revolver 
drawn  in  his  right  hand  and  at  arms  length,  with  his  eye 
making  a  sure  aim,  which  at  once  convinced  me  that  at  least 
one  more  painted  and  plumed  warrior  fell  before  his  own  time 
had  come,  which  was  no  doubt  then  close  at  hand.  On  ray  right 
and  just  at  Ouster's  left  was  the  genial  and  noble-hearted 
Cook  (Ouster's  Adjutant),  in  a  half  kneeling  position,  with 
his  carbine  drawn  with  deadly  aim  (and  no  doubt  for  the 
last  time)  on  some  one  of  the  warriors  who  were  just  at  this 
time  making  a  fearful  onslaught  upon  this  heroic  and  lonely 
little  band,  all  that  were  left  of  the  brave  three  hundred  after 
a  most  bitter  and  heart-rending,  yet  the  most  glorious  defense 
that  has  ever  been  made  in  the  world,  or  recorded  in  the 
annals  of  any  history  of  civilized  or  Indian  warfare.  A  few 
feet  from  Custer,  on  his  left,  lay  the  gallant  Captain  Yates, 
evidently  just  breathing  his  last,  and  over  his  body  was  a 
carbine  just  leveled  by  a  bronze  faced  trooper  wearing  a  fron- 
tierman's  broad-brimmed  hat,  set  one  side  of  his  head  and  a 
little  back,  with  a  blue  army  shirt  on  with  sleeves  rolled  up, 
all  of  which  presented  a  most  life-like  appearance,  and  a  des- 
peration that  seemed  to  speak  as  loud  and  plain  as  words 
could  speak — "Pll  avenge  the  death  of  my  brave  commander, 


THE   HOSTILES.  117 

wlio  lias  so  nobly  fought  and  bravely  died  before  me."  In  cast- 
ing my  eyes  to  the  rear  of  where  Ouster  stood,  and  glancing 
around  and  over  the  semi-circle  winrow  of  dead  horses  and 
men,  all  lying  promiscuously  and  in  pell-mell  order,  with 
now  and  then  a  dead  Indian  still  clenching  his  carbine  or 
spear  with  deathly  grasp,  we  see  nothing  but  one  vast  array 
of  blood-thirsty  warriors,  making  their  final  onslaught  against 
the  legion  brave  who  had  stood  for  hours  so  bravely  and 
fought  so  nobly,  and  were  now  witnessing  the  life-blood  of 
their  brothers  lave  the  field,  who  had  already  fallen  before 
them.  Onward  the  savage  hordes  are  fast  rushing,  plunging 
their  way  through  the  clouds  of  smoke  like  so  many  mad- 
brained  demons  being  driven  into  bedlam,  mounted  on  their 
fleetest  war-horses,  trampling  over  dead  horses,  dead  troop- 
ers and  dead  Indians,  whose  copper-colored,  naked  skin 
(save  that  portion  the  breech  clout  covered)  glistened  as  bril- 
liant as  the  Chinese  vermilion  on  their  scrawny  faces,  painted 
in  such  a  manner  that  bore  positive  evidence  of  a  deter- 
mination to  annihilate  every  white  man  that  by  chance 
struck  the  buffalo  trail  on  the  "Western  plains. 

The  savage  horde  appear  to  be  making  this  charge  on  a 
semi-circle  line,  all  mounted  and  bedecked  with  gew-gaws, 
and  heads  dressed  in  the  most  costly  war-bonnets,  and 
tricked  with  plumes  and  eagles'  feathers,  with  war-paint  on 
their  faces,  and  with  carbine  and  spear  in  hand,  all  of  which 
presents  not  only  a  most  horrid,  but  a  murderous  and  bar- 
barous spectacle,  but  really  a  life-like  picture  of  hostile 
savages,  arrayed  in  a  bold  and  unrelenting  charge,  which 
resulted  in  a  most  treacherous  and  heart-rending  massacre. 

As  we  left  the  studio  our  lips  were  sealed  in  regard  to  the 
future  course  Mr.  Mulvany  is  to  pursue,  and  under  a  promise 
not  to  mention  his  whereabouts,  as  his  painting  is  yet  unfin- 
ished, and  he  cannot  be  annoyed  with  frequent  visitors.  He 
is  arranging  a  very  fine  engraving  of  his  painting,  the  size 
of  which  will  be  about  36X20  inches,  and  nicely  framed.  I 
saw  one  of  his  engravings  he  had  just  finished,  and  must 
frankly  say  that  the  intellectual  features  of  all  whom  I  had 
personally  known,  could  not  be  more  clearly  and  effectually 
set  forth  for  the  human  eye  to  gaze  upon.  The  eyes  of  "  Cus- 


118  SUBJUGATING 

ter  and  Cook  "  looking  as  clear  and  piercing  as  when  they 
were  on  dress  parade  at  Fort  A.  Lincoln,  only  a  few  months 
before  the  battle.  Mr.  Mulvany  has  certainly  gained  artistic 
repute  to  a  very  high  degree,  and  his  efforts  must  prove  an 
immense  success.  He  has  been  offered  twenty-five  thousand 
dollars  for  his  painting  alone.  But  we  must  be  brief  in  this 
account,  as  it  is  against  the  orders  of  the  artist  to  say  any- 
thing special  in  connection  with  his  studio,  but  we  assume 
the  same  right  that  Mr.  Whitman  presumed  to  take,  and 
will  also  produce  his  account  of  this  wonderful  work  as  it 
appeared  in  the  New  York  Tribune,  and  following  this  will 
appear  a  memoriam  by  Judge  J.  S.  Carvell,  who  was  an  old 
citizen  on  the  frontier  at  the  time,  and  personally  kneAV  the 
many  good  traits  of  Ouster  and  the  officers  of  the  Seventh 
Cavalry. 

The  writer  places  the  following  productions  upon  these 
pages  to  show  that  intense  interest  has  been  taken  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  in  regard  to  this  important 
campaign : 

"CUSTEB'S     LAST    BALLY." 

BY  MR.  WALT  WHITMAN,  OF  BOSTON. 

I  went  to-day  to  see  this  just-finished  painting  by  John 
Mulvany,  who  has  been  out  in  far  Montana  on  the  spot  at 
the  forts,  and  among  the  frontiersmen,  soldiers  and  Indians, 
for  the  last  two  or  three  years,  on  purpose  to  sketch  it  in 
from  reality,  or  the  best  that  could  be  got  of  it.  I  sat  for 
over  an  hour  before  the  picture,  completely  absorbed  in  the 
first  view.  A  vast  canvas,  I  should  say  twenty  or  twenty- 
two  feet  by  twelve,  all  crowded,  and  yet  not  crowded,  con- 
veying such  a  vivid  play  of  color,  it  takes  a  little  time  to  get 
used  to  it.  There  are  no  tricks ;  there  is  no  throwing  of 
shades  in  masses ;  it  is  all  at  first  painfully  real,  overwhelm- 
ing, needs  good  nerves  to  look  at  it.  Forty  or  fifty  figures, 
perhaps  more,  in  full  finish  and  detail,  life-size,  in  the  mid- 
ground,  with  three  times  that  number,  or  more,  through  the 
rest — swarms  upon  swarms  of  savage  Sioux,  in  their  war- 


THE   HOSTILES.  119 

bonnets,  frantic,  mostly  on  ponies,  driving  through  the  back- 
ground, through  the  smoke,  like  a  hurricane  of  demons.  A 
dozen  of  the  figures  are  wonderful.  Altogether  a  Western, 
autochthonic  phase  of  America,  the  frontiers,  culminating 
typical,  deadly,  heroic  to  the  uttermost ;  nothing  in  the 
books  like  it,  nothing  in  Homer,  nothing  in  Shakespeare ; 
more  grim  and  sublime  than  either,  all  native,  all  our  own, 
and  all  a  fact.  A  great  lot  of  muscular,  tan-faced  men 
brought  to  bay  under  terrible  circumstances.  Death  a-hold 
of  them,  yet  every  man  undaunted,  not  one  losing  his  head, 
wringing  out  every  cent  of  the  pay  before  they  sell  their 
lives. 

Ouster  (his  hair  cut  short)  stands  in  the  middle  with 
dilated  eye  and  extended  arm,  aiming  a  huge  cavalry  pistol. 
Captain  Cook  is  there,  partially  wounded,  blood  on  the 
white  handkerchief  around  his  head,  but  aiming  his  carbine 
coolly,  half  kneeling  (his  body  was  afterwards  found  close 
by  Custer's).  The  slaughtered  or  half-slaughtered  horses, 
for  breastworks,  make  a  peculiar  feature.  Two  dead  Indians, 
herculean,  lie  in  the  foreground  clutching  their  Winchester 
rifles,  very  characteristic.  The  many  soldiers,  their  faces 
and  attitudes,  the  carbines,  the  broad-brimmed  Western 
hats,  the  powder  smoke  in  puffs,  the  dying  horses  with  their 
rolling  eyes  almost  human  in  their  agony,  the  clouds  of  war- 
bonneted  Sioux  in  the  background,  the  figures  of  Custer  and 
Cook,  with,  indeed,  the  whole  scene,  inexpressible,  dreadful, 
yet  with  an  attraction  and  beauty  that  will  remain  forever 
in  my  memory.  With  all  its  color  and  fierce  action  a  cer- 
tain Greek  continence  pervades  it.  A  sunny  sky  and  clear 
light  develop  all.  There  is  an  almost  entire  absence  of  the 
stock  traits  of  European  war  pictures.  The  physiognomy 
of  the  work  is  realistic  and  Western. 

I  only  saw  it  for  an  hour  or  so ;  but  needs  to  be  seen  many 
times — needs  "to  be  studied  over  and  over  again.  I  could 
look  on  such  a  work  at  brief  intervals  all  my  life  without 
tiring.  It  is  very  tonic  to  me.  Then  it  has  an  ethic  pur- 
pose below  all,  as  all  great  art  must  have. 

The  artist  said  the  sending  of  the  picture  abroad,  prob- 
ably to  London,  had  been  talked  of.  I  advised  him  if  it 


120  SUBJUGATING 

went  abroad  to  take  it  to  Paris.  I  think  they  might  appre- 
ciate it  there — nay,  they  certainly  would.  Then  I  would 
like  to  show  Messieur  Crapeau  that  some  things  can  be  done 
in  America  as  well  as  others. 

Altogether,  "  Ouster's  Last  Rally  "  is  one  of  the  very  few 
attempts  at  deliberate  artistic  expression  for  our  land  and 
people,  on  a  pretty  ambitious  standard  and  programme,  that 
impressed  me  as  filling  the  bill. 


IN  MEMORIAM. 

The  sun  shone  from  an  azure  sky 

On  that  eventful  day, 
When  Ouster's  band  of  troopers  bold 

Eode  forth  in  proud  array ; 
With  their  loved  chieftain  in  command 

No  trooper  on  that  field 
But  what  would  face  the  cannon's  mouth 

And  life's  red  current  yield. 

The  soul  of  chivalry  was  he — 

He  was  their  boast  and  pride  ; 
Ofttimes  they'd  heard  his  clarion  voice 

Where  rolled  the  crimson  tide. 
Ofttimes  they'd  made  the  brave  advance 

Where  gallant  Ouster  led, 
On  many  a  blood-stained  battle-ground 

The  legion  brave  had  bled. 

Shrill  sounds  the  reveille  once  more 

That  balmy  summer's  morn, 
Its  echoes  wake  o'er  hill  and  dale 

On  gentle  zephyrs  borne. 
Each  heart  beats  in  responsive  note, 

Each  heart  beats  high  with  glee, 
For  fame  and  country,  home  and  friends,. 

And  Ouster's  cavalry. 


THE    HOSTILES.  12L 

"  Forward !  brave  hearts  !"  tlie  chieftain  cried 

That  balmy  morn  in  June, 
"  Fresh  laurels  gain,  or  cypress  weave 

A  wreath  for  warrior's  tomb. 
Our  duty  calls,  and  life,  how  dear, 

Will  not  be  spent  in  vain 
If  laid  down  on  the  battle-field 

Among  the  noble  slain." 

And  slain  they  were,  that  gallant  band, 

Before  the  setting  sun ; 
Their  spirits  winged  their  mystic  flight, 

Their  sands  of  life  had  run. 
Not  one  was  left  to  tell  the  tale— 

That  legion  bold  and  brave, 
Their  life-blood  laved  the  distant  wilds,  - 

They  found  a  warrior's  grave. 

In  numbers  vast  the  savage  horde 

Bore  down  in  fiendish  rage, 
And,  ten  to  one,  with  leaden  hail, 

Did  Ouster's  boys  engage. 
No  earthly  force  could  stand  such  odds  ; 

No  power  stem  the  tide. 
They  nobly  fought  as  heroes  do, 

They  fought  and  bled  and  died. 

The  chieftain's  voice  is  hushed  in  death. 

The  trooper's  battle-cry 
No  more  shall  make  the  welkin  ring, 

Or  enemy  defy. 
They  nobly  lived  and  bravely  died 

In  honor,  glory,  fame. 
All  hail !  the  Seventh  Cavalry, 

And  Ouster's  honored  name. 
July  8th,  1876.  J.  S.  OAEVEUL. 

The  above  was  written  immediately  after  receiving  the 
news  of  the  battle  of  the  Little  Big  Horn. 


122  SUBJUGATING 


RAIN-IN -THE -FACE,    THE    MURDERER    OF 
GENERAL    OUSTER. 

Upon  the  opposite  page  will  be  seen  a  true  portrait  of 
Rain-in-the-Face,  the  Indian  that  murdered  General  Ouster. 
As  will  be  seen  in  the  fore  part  of  this  volume,  he  made  it 
his  special  business  to  encourage  all  the  hostiles  within  his 
reach  and  hearing  to  rally  and  mass  in  the  valley  of  the 
Little  Big  Horn,  under  the  leadership  of  Sitting  Bull.  In 
previous  history  it  has  been  clearly  shown  that  he  murdered 
Dr.  Houtzinger,  the  veterinary  surgeon  of  the  7th  Cavalry, 
and  Mr.  Balarian,  the  sutler,  while  out  with  the  great 
"Stanley  expedition,"  in  1873.  These  murders  were  com- 
mitted on  the  north  side  of  the  Yellowstone  River,  nearly 
opposite  the  mouth  of  Tongue  River,  as  well  as  opposite 
Fort  Keogh,  in  Montana  Territory,  while  Ouster  with  his 
regiment  was  escorting  a  party  of  civil  engineers  making  a 
preliminary  survey  along  the  present  route  of  the  Northern 
Pacific  Railroad. 

The  record  of  this  Indian  is  very  clearly  stated  in  these 
pages  up  to  the  time  he  escaped  from  the  guard-house  at 
Fort  Abraham  Lincoln.  We  have  positive  knowledge  that 
he  then  went  deliberately  and  actively  at  work  recruiting 
all  the  warriors  within  his  reach  and  influence,  under  prom- 
ises that  they  certainly  could  either  drive  the  "  long-haired 
chief "  out  of  the  country,  or  annihilate  him  and  his  cavalry 
entirely ;  and  well  did  he  keep  his  word  good. 

There  is  no  question  about  his  bringing  reinforcements 
all  the  way  from  the  southern  camps  and  agencies  of  the 
Cheyennes,  Arrappahoes,  Kiowas  and  Comanches,  all  then 
located  south  of  the  southern  boundary  line  of  Kansas,  aside 
from  the  recruiting  that  was  done  at  the  different  camps  and 
agencies  in  the  whole  Northwest ;  and  if  Mr.  Belknap,  then 
.Socretary  of  War,  had  paid  less  attention  to  his  petty  post- 
trading  business,  and  tried  to  have  informed  himself  in  rela- 
tion to  the  movements  of  the  hostile  Indians  on  the  western 
plains,  and  went  to  work  to  help  organize  the  Fort  Lincoln 
column  of  troops,  and  starting  it  out  at  the  proper  time  and 


RAIN-IN-THE-FACE, 

THE     MUEDERER     OF     GENERAL     CUSTER 


THE   HOSTILES.  123 

-without  such  great  delay — and  for  no  other  purpose,  only  to 
give  vent  to  his  own  personal  spite  against  Custer,  and  to 
humiliate  him  in  an  official  manner,  just  because  he  could  do 
it,  and  on  no  other  ground  whatever  only  than  "  might  makes 
right " — if  he  had  paid  any  attention  whatever  to  the  move- 
ments of  those  southern  Indians,  and  allowed  General  Terry 
to  have  moved  at  the  proper  time,  there  can  be  no  doubt  as 
to  the  result  of  that  campaign.  Custer  with  his  three  hundred 
men  (most  of  whom  would  have  been  living  to-day),  and  the 
Lincoln  column,  under  General  Terry,  would  have  started 
at  least  one  month  earlier,  and  the  southern  warriors  could 
not  have  arrived  in  time  to  have  taken  part  in  the  battle. 

The  writer  knows  whereof  he  speaks,  because  he  was  well 
and  truly  advised,  as  well  as  other  western  men,  when  the 
southern  warriors  crossed  the  Black  Hills  trail  about  one 
hundred  miles  north  and  east  of  Deadwood,  and  he  also  held 
communication,  in  private  business  matters,  with  Crook  City 
and  Deadwood  every  few  days  during  that  entire  season ; 
hence  we  claim  to  have  had  the  best  of  facilities  for  obtain- 
ing facts  concerning  the  movements  of  war-parties  in  that 
particular  section  of  the  country.  Eain-in-the-Face  remained 
with  Sitting  Bull  most  of  the  time  after  the  Custer  battle, 
and  a  greater  portion  of  the  time  across  the  northern  bound- 
ary line,  but  not  as  a  distinguished  chief  or  leader,  further 
than  the  credit  allowed  him  for  rallying  the  Indian  forces  to 
meet  Custer  in  such  a  short  space  of  time,  knowing  very 
well  that  Custer  was  being  kept  back  at  Washington  on  the 
Belknap  impeachment  case,  and  he  shrewdly  seized  this 
only  opportunity  to  rally  such  a  tremendous  strong  force,  all 
of  whom  he  knew  to  be  veterans,  anxious  and  blood-thirsty 
warriors.  The  Indians  report  him  as  not  caring  to  go  on  the 
war-path  since  his  revenge  on  Custer.  During  the  fall  of 
1880,  while  he  was  out  on  a  buffalo  hunt  and  mounting  his 
horse,  his  gun  was  accidentally  discharged,  the  ball  taking 
effect  in  one  of  his  knees,  taking  the  cap  of  his  knee  entirely 
off,  thus  disabling  him  from  active  field  service,  and  it  is 
supposed  that  he  surrendered  much  sooner  on  this  account 
than  he  otherwise  would  have  done  had  he  not  been  crippled 
for  life.  During  the  winter  of  1880-'81,  the  tribes  he  was 


124  SUBJUGATING 

with  became  disheartened,  as  others  had  before  and  since, 
and  finally  came  in  to  "  Fort  Keogh,"  and  made  a  final  sur- 
render. Some  mischief-maker  succeeded  in  making  him  be- 
lieve that  the  United  States  Court  was  about  to  have  him 
arrested  and  tried  for  murder,  and  that  he  would  no  doubt 
be  hung.  This  proved  to  be  a  source  of  great  annoyance  to 
him  for  many  months,  but  the  officers  in  charge  of  him  soon 
set  aside  his  fears  by  informing  him  that  he  would  be  treated 
as  a  prisoner  of  war.  Early  in  the  spring  of  '81  he  was 
taken  to  the  Standing  Rock,  where  he  remains  quiet  and 
harmless.  He  is  32  years  of  age,  and  has  a  round  and  strong 
healthy  look,  as  will  be  seen  by  his  portrait.  It  is  quite 
probable  he  will  not  give  the  white  people  any  more  trouble 
farther  than  the  issuing  of  the  ten  days'  ration  and  his  annu- 
ity goods  twice  each  year,  as  is  the  custom.  He  is  com- 
pelled to  use  a  crutch  when  he  walks,  and  no  danger  need 
be  apprehended  from  him  further  than  his  secret  counsel 
and  influence  might  go  among  discontented  warriors  about 
to  take  the  war-path,  which  will  amount  to  but  very  little, 
as  he  cannot  take  an  active  part  himself. 


THE    HOSTILES.  125 


RETROSPECTIVE. 


A  brief,  fragmentary  sketch  of  the  history  and  personnel 
of  the  principal  tribes  who  have  been  introduced  to  the 
reader  in  the  foregoing  pages,  may  well  serve  as  an  appen- 
dix to  this  volume. 

The  country  011  the  Washita  River  and  in  and  about  the 
Wichita  Mountains,  as  well  as  along  the  Canadian  River,  is 
highly  fertile  and  capable  of  sustaining  a  large  population. 
The  scenery  is  beautiful  and  the  climate  delightful.  The 
winters  are  mild  and  short ;  grass  is  plentiful  for  the  suste- 
nance of  stock ;  timber  is  abundant ;  and  the  surrounding 
country  at  Wichita  Mountains  is  well  watered  and  unsur- 
passed for  salubrity. 

The  Wichitas  were  once  a  very  numerous  and  warlike 
people,  inhabiting  the  Wichita  Mountains  from  time  imme- 
morial. Remains  of  their  ancient  villages  and  fortifications 
are  yet  plainly  to  be  traced  in  this  locality.  They  claim  to 
have  once  held  dominion  over  a  very  large  extent  of  coun- 
try, from  the  junction  of  the  Wichita  (now  Washita),  with 
Red  River,  and  extending  westward  to  a  line  running  due 
south  from  the  headwaters  of  the  Canadian  to  Red  River. 
Their  principal  village  was  situated  near  the  head  of  Rush 
Creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Wichita,  or  Washita,  where  they 
lived  for  many  years  in  peace  and  comparative  comfort, 
raising  abundant  corn  and  vegetables,  plentifully  supplied 
with  buffalo  meat,  and  deriving  a  profitable  income  from 
trade  with  the  Comanches  of  bows  and  arrows,  for  mules, 
horses  and  buffalo  robes.  In  1834  their  village  was  removed 
to  Cache  Creek,  in  the  Wichita  Mountains,  where  for  many 
years  they  remained  undisturbed.  These  mountains  are 
more  properly  peaks,  surrounded  by  rich  valleys,  covered 
with  luxuriant  grasses  and  abounding  in  mineral  wealth; 
buffalo,  deer,  antelope,  bear,  turkeys,  grouse,  quails  and 
small  game  are  plentiful.  Altogether  a  country  better 
adapted  to  supply  the  physical  wants  of  men  and  animals 


126  SUBJUGATING 

could  not  be  found  anywhere ;  and  here  dwelt  for  many- 
years  these  untaught  children  of  nature,  at  peace  with  the 
world  and  with  each  other. 

In  the  year  1858  they  became  involved  in  difficulties  with 
the  Comanches,  a  wild,  roving  tribe  of  the  plains,  and 
through  fear  of  them  abandoned  their  pleasant  village,  never 
to  return,  and  sought  refuge  and  protection  near  Fort  Ar- 
buckle,  leading  an  unsettled  life,  until  a  few  years  previous 
to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  when  they 
were  located  near  Fort  Cobb.  At  the  opening  of  the  civil 
war  they  were  again  compelled  to  abandon  their  homes 
and  remove  to  Kansas,  remaining  loyal  to  the  government 
during  the  four  years'  conflict.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
they  were  returned  to  Fort  Cobb,  decimated  by  disease  and 
hardships,  and  destitute  of  everything  save  the  scanty  sup- 
plies furnished  them  by  the  government.  Dispirited,  and 
despairing  of  ever  again  regaining  their  beautiful  homes  in 
the  Wichita  Mountains,  where  the  bones  of  their  ancestry 
had  slumbered  for  ages,  or  of  obtaining  compensation  for 
the  loss  of  their  lands  or  reward  for  their  loyalty,  they  were 
unwilling  to  again  improve  their  homes,  until  assured  that 
they  should  remain  in  peaceable  possession  of  them. 

Gen.  W.  B.  Hazen,  then  Colonel  of  the  6th  U.  S.  Infantry, 
was  in  charge  of  the  wild  tribes  by  appointment  of  General 
Sherman,  who  had  great  confidence  in  his  ability  as  an 
executive  and  administrative  officer,  and  it  may  well  be  said 
that  Col.  Hazen  justified  the  confidence  of  his  superior  offi- 
cer by  proving  himself  efficient  in  every  position  that  he 
held  in  the  Indian  Department.  To  him  the  discouraged 
Wichitas  appealed  for  the  justice  that  was  the  meed  of  their 
industry,  thrift,  and  devotion  to  the  government.  To  the 
Cheyennes,  Kiowas,  Comanches  and  Apaches,  wild  tribes  of 
tho  plains,  had  been  given  land,  and  large  sums  of  money 
were  annually  expended  upon  them.  : 

The  Wichitas,  of  whom  Gen.  Hazen  speaks  as  a  peaceable 
and  deserving  band  of  Indians,  had  been  given  no  land  at 
all,  and  were  there  merely  by  sufferance,  while  the  beautiful 
country  to  whose  river  and  mountain  they  had  given  their 
own  name,  was  in  the  possession  of  alien  tribes. 


THE   HOSTILES.  127 

Previous  to  this  time  the  aimless  policy  of  the  govern- 
ment toward  the  wild  Indians  had  begun  to  assume  definite 
shape,  and  a  marked  change  for  the  better  became  apparent 
in  the  management  of  Indian  affairs. 

During  the  summer  of  1866,  before  the  Union  Pacific 
Railroad  was  built,  Gen.  Hazen  was  crossing  the  plains  in 
an  ambulance,  and  while  riding  along,  giving  some  thought 
to  the  unsettled  condition  of  Indian  affairs,  a  plan  suggested 
itself  to  him  which  was  afterward  approved  by  General 
Sherman.  It  was  to  allot  a  given  amount  of  land  to  each 
tribe  and  compel  them  to  live  upon  it ;  to  feed  them  and 
build  houses  for  them ;  to  provide  school-houses  and  teach- 
ers ;  to  furnish  agricultural  implements  ;  to  teach  them  hus- 
bandry, and  otherwise  care  for  them  until  they  should  be- 
come self-sustaining.  It  was  at  Gen.  Hazen's  suggestion 
that  the  wild  tribes  were  sent  south  of  the  Arkansas  River 
to  locate  on  reservations.  The  Kiowas,  Comanches,  Chey- 
ennes  and  Arrapahoes  then  resided  on  the  Arkansas  and 
Smokey  Rivers,  ranging  as  far  north  as  the  Platte. 

In  a  council  of  the  warriors  held  near  Fort  Dodge,  Kan- 
sas, the  war  chiefs  agreed  to  settle  upon  a  reservation,  but 
declared  that  they  would  not  go  unless  they  could  have 
some  one  with  whom  they  were  acquainted  to  go  with  them 
to  act  as  their  agent.  General  Hazen  at  once  sent  for  Colo- 
nel A.  G.  Boone,  who  had  had  many  years  of  experience 
among  wild  tribes.  The  Indians  consented  to  go  if  Colonel 
Boone  would  go  with  them.  Their  agency  was  then  located 
near  the  base  of  the  Wichita  Mountains,  about  thirty  miles 
north  of  the  northern  boundary  line  of  Texas,  and  here  the 
Kiowas  and  Comanches  were  finally  settled,  their  new 
camps  being  called  "Medicine  Bluffs,"  and  was  generally 
known  among  the  Indians  as  "  Medicine  Lodge  Creek." 

The  Cheyennes  and  Arrapahoes  were  located  south  of  the 
Arkansas  River,  near  the  North  Canadian — a  fine  location 
for  a  reservation,  there  being  plenty  of  wood,  water  and 
grass. 

These  warriors  subsequently  proved  troublesome ;  so 
much  so  that  a  military  post,  called  Fort  Reno,  was  estab- 
lished there.  The  Indians  in  this  section  of  the  country 


128  SUBJUGATING 

have  given  the  government  much  trouble,  together  with  the 
wild  Apaches,  who  mostly  roam  in  New  Mexico  and  Old 
Mexico. 

In  the  meantime,  Generals  Sherman  and  Sheridan  were 
active  in  their  respective  duties  in  trying  to  bring  about  a 
peaceful  result  that  would  be  satisfactory  to  the  general 
government  and  beneficial  to  the  Indians.  General  Hazen 
and  Colonel  Boone  were  encouraged  and  supported  in  every 
manner  possible  within  the  compass  of  the  offices  of  these 
two  worthy  military  chiefs.  Their  presence  had  a  good 
moral  effect  upon  the  Indians.  The  Indian  chiefs  well  knew 
their  power  and  influence.  They  respected  them  as  brave 
soldiers — a  characteristic  of  war  chiefs.  They  named 
General  Sherman,  "  the  Big-White-Chief,"  and  General 
Sheridan,  "  The-Little-Big-Short-Chief-that-Kides-Fast  "— 
in  reference  to  his  famous  twenty-mile-ride  into  Winchester, 
known  in  history  and  poetry  as  "  Sheridan's  Ride."  And 
they  well  knew  the  famous  black  horse  on  which  he  then 
rode,  as  he  rode  the  same  horse  seventy-five  miles  across 
the  prairie  in  a  single  night,  in  order  to  catch  them  nap- 
ping, before  daybreak  in  the  morning.  The  war-chiefs  often 
made  kind  inquiries  after  Sheridan,  saying  he  was  a  brave 
soldier  and  a  "  heap-good-man."  Occasionally  one  would 
<;all  him  "  Big-Heart-with-a-Fast-Horse." 

Sheridan's  plan  with  Indians  determined  to  go  on  the 
war-path  was  invariably,  "  surround  them  and  thrash  them 
soundly  " — but  treat  them  well  and  kindly  while  they  re- 
main on  their  reservations  and  behave  themselves. 

General  Sheridan  is  acknowledged  by  Western  men  to  be 
not  merely  a  good  Indian  fighter,  but  a  good  administration 
man  in  military  affairs  generally  in  the  Western  country. 
His  immediate  subordinate,  General  Alfred  H.  Terry,  com- 
manding the  Department  of  Dakota,  is  deserving  of  great 
credit  for  his  management  of  the  wild  tribes  in  the  North- 
west. He  is  a  man  of  superior  executive  ability,  and  his 
honor  and  fidelity  cannot  be  questioned. 

Colonel  Boone  has  since  held  various  honorable  posi- 
tions in  the  Interior  Department,  and  has  been  employed 
in  making  treaties  with  some  of  the  wild  tribes  who  are 
located  further  north  than  those  above  mentioned. 


THE    HOSTILES.  129 

His  course  of  conduct  among  wild  Indians  has  always 
b?en  that  of  pacification,  his  mode  of  treatment  kind,  and 
his  rules  and  regulations  very  strict  and  impartial.  His 
health  has  now  in  great  measure  failed,  and  the  Interior 
Department  has  lost  a  valuable  servant.  His  son-in-law, 
Lieut. -Colonel  Elmer  Otis,  of  the  7th  Cavalry  (Custer's  for- 
mer position),  is  one  of  the  most  valuable  and  popular  offi- 
cers on  the  frontier. 

The  complications  arising  among  the  military  officers  in 
the  Southern  Indian  District,  in  consequence  of  the  famous 
"  Battle  of  the  Washita,"  are  part  of  the  history  of  the  coun- 
try, and  need  not  be  here  recapitulated.  The  military  ope- 
rations in  the  Southwest,  during  1368  and  1869,  have  been 
recorded  at  length  in  "  Custer's  Life  on  the  Plains,"  which 
is  still  further  supplemented  by  a  pamphlet  entitled,  "  Some 
Corrections  of  Life  on  the  Plains,"  issued  by  General  Hazen 
in  1875. 

To  recount  the  history  of  military  campaigns  against  these 
wild  tribes,  has  not  entered  into  the  plan  of  this  volume, 
whose  object  has  been  rather  to  give  to  the  reader  a  cursoiy 
but  correct  view  of  the  character  and  status  of  the  Indians 
involved.  At  that  date  peace  councils  were  in  the  ascend- 
ancy in  Indian  affairs,  and  General  Hazen  had  been  assigned, 
in  the  autumn  of  1868,  in  the  interest  of  the  Peace  Commis- 
sion, to  the  charge  of  all  the  wild  Indians  south  of  Kansas, 
comprising  then  the  tribes  above  mentioned. 

General  Hazen  made  an  eloquent  appeal  to  the  govern- 
ment for  the  restoration  of  their  rights  to  the  displaced 
"Wichitas,  but  the  return  of  their  lands  was  found  to  be  im- 
possible, and  they  were  provided  for  elsewhere. 

General  Hazen  and  Colonel  Boone  were  both  remarkably 
successful  in  their  treatment  of  the  Indians  and  in  their 
schemes  for  their  welfare,  so  far  as  they  were  permitted  to 
extend  their  authority.  But  at  this  juncture  a  new  admin- 
istration came  into  power,  and  with  the  dawn  of  Grantism 
went  out  much  that  was  calculated  to  improve  and  elevate 
the  Indian. 

Little  attention  was  paid  to  the  qualifications,  energy  or 
trustworthiness  of  the  incumbents  of  offices.  Room  had  to 


130  SUBJUGATING 

be  made  for  a  new  set  of  officers,  whether  competent  or  in- 
competent, hence  the  agencies  were  turned  over  to  a  new 
class  of  men.  It  is  proper  to  state,  however,  that  many  of 
the  in-coming  men  made  very  good  and  efficient  agents.  It 
is  proper  to  place  proper  credit  where  it  belongs,  and  do 
injustice  to  no  one.  The  Indians,  however,  became  very 
uneasy,  and  greatly  dissatisfied,  at  this  change  in  their 
agents.  They  had  become  acquainted  with  General  Hazen 
and  Colonel  Boone,  and  their  administration  had  proved 
satisfactory  to  them,  and  this  change  no  doubt  led  to  the 
raids  that  were  made  into  Texas  during  the  following  year. 
The  new  agents  were  good  men  enough,  but  the  Indians 
were  bound  to  become  discontented  at  any  frivolous  reason 
that  presented  itself.  So  far  as  learned,  it  appears  that 
when  changes  were  to  be  made  at  Indian  agencies,  they  were 
made  with  a  sweeping  hand,  regardless  of  future  conse- 
quences, and  without  any  respect  whatever  to  the  qualifica- 
tions and  behavior  of  the  previous  occupants.  It  seems  that 
no  more  respect  was  shown  to  the  occupants,  than  was 
shown  by  ex-Secretary  of  WarBelknap  to  post  traders,  when 
he  made  his  raid  upon  them,  regardless  of  the  trouble  that 
might  arise  from  such  summary  proceedings,  among  them- 
selves and  their  creditors  generally. 

Orders  were  issued  by  the  parties  in  power,  just  because 
they  had  the  power  to  issue  them,  and  for  no  other  reason, 
as  it  has  been  clearly  demonstrated  that  the  question  of 
right  or  wrong  did  not  enter  into  their  calculations  at  all. 

Such  conduct  on  the  part  of  the  high  officials  of  the 
country  of  course  had  its  demoralizing  effect  upon  the  army 
officials  throughout  the  "West.  They  could  not,  conse- 
quently, look  up  to  their  leading  civil  officers  with  any  feel- 
ing of  respect,  knowing,  as  they  did,  that  they  were  degrad- 
ing their  offices,  and  assigning  them  to  duties  that  were 
designed  but  to  aid  in  their  own  peculations. 

The  Indians,  of  course,  were  but  too  well  advised  in  re- 
gard to  Belknap's  sweeping  orders  among  traders,  as  it 
drove  away  many  who  for  years  had  been  trading  honorably 
among  them.  Some  of  the  wily  chiefs  and  warriors  had 
named  the  Secretary  of  War  "  The-Heap-Big-Steal-'em- 


THE    HOSTILES.  131 

Chief."  "He  no  good;  lie  steal 'em  all,"  was  a  frequent 
ejaculation.  Thus,  even  the  Indians  shared  with  the  brave 
little  army  of  the  frontier  in  the  demoralizing  effects  of  the 
short-sighted  policy  of  the  War  Department,  and  divided 
with  its  officers  the  contempt  with  which  they  regarded  the 
selfish,  dishonest  head  of  the  War  Department.  Indians, 
as  a  rule,  are  shrewd  traders,  especially  when  they  have  an 
equal  chance  with  white  men.  In  those  days  they  woulcl 
nick-name  the  trader  "  Steal-Chief,"  on  account  of  his  hold- 
ing his  appointment  under  Belknap. 

No  less  demoralized  were  the  Indians  in  the  Northwest, 
particularly  along  the  Upper  Missouri,  when  President 
Grant  made  his  tyrannical  orders  and  changes.  Old  Indian 
traders  of  good  standing  were  removed  without  cause,  and 
for  no  reason  but  to  make  room  for  a  lot  of  petty  politicians 
from  Philadelphia,  who  were  merely  subordinates  to  aid 
Orville  Grant,  a  brother  of  the  President,  in  his  unhallowed 
schemes  of  legalized  plunder. 

Indian  reservations  were  extended  regardless  of  the  pro- 
tests of  old  settlers  and  squatters,  whose  rights  were  utterly 
ignored — all  for  no  other  purpose  than  to  increase  the  do- 
main and,  consequently,  the  profits  of  the  newly-appointed 
trader. 

If  an  old  trader  was  allowed  to  hold  his  position  at  all, 
it  was  in  consideration  of  paying  the  newly-appointed  trader 
a  stipulated  sum.  When  first  approached  for  negotiations 
upon  the  subject,  the  newly-appointed  trader  would  invari- 
ably say,  "  We  will  see  Orville  Grant  about  it ;  you  know 
he  fixes  things." 

Such  open  dishonesty  on  the  part  of  the  high  officials  of 
the  nation  naturally  had  a  very  great  tendency  to  demoral- 
ize the  already  discontented  and  half-tamed  warriors. 
Small  wonder,  then,  that  they  demanded  of  the  government 
better  treatment  for  themselves.  Nor  was  it  to  be  wondered 
at  that  they  often  made  declarations  and  direct  charges 
against  the  whites  that  their  hunting-grounds  and  buffalo 
were  being  stolen,  and  dishonest  traders  forced  upon  them, 
to  rob  their  squaws  and  papooses  in  the  regular  way  of 
trade.  There  is  no  question  in  regard  to  the  Indians  losing 


132  SUBJUGATING 

what  little  confidence  they  ever  did  have  in  the  general 
government,  after  these  high-handed  operations  in  and 
about  their  agencies. 

More  than  one  warrior  became  disgusted  with  this  pre- 
viously unheard-of  management,  and  left  his  tepee  in  charge 
of  the  old  men  and  women,  and  took  to  flight  on  his  fleet 
pony  to  join  Sitting  Bull's  camp.  There  is  no  doubt  among 
Western  men,  who  are  well  informed  in  frontier  matters, 
that  this  disgraceful  management  was  the  cause  of  swelling 
Sitting  Bull's  ranks  in  the  campaign  of  1876,  so  well  known 
throughout  the  country  as  "  Ouster's  last  battle." 

The  evil  results  of  the  example  of  such  unprincipled  deal- 
ing on  the  part  of  the  government  before  the  eyes  of  the 
savages  were  greatly  to  be  deplored.  The  Indians  had 
always  been  promised  good  treatment  and  fair  dealing  in 
trade,  if  they  would  leave  the  war-path,  forsake  their  wild 
habits,  and  become  a  good  and  peaceful  people.  The  author 
does  not  pretend  to  say  that  the  Indians  were  in  the  least 
justifiable  in  going  on  the  war-path  on  account  of  the  bad 
treatment  received  from  the  high  and  dignified  oificials  of 
the  land,  yet  it  is  a  fact  beyond  question,  that  the  average 
Indian  is  very  sensitive  in  regard  to  the  treatment  he 
receives,  his  mind  being  quite  clear  upon  subjects  with 
which  he  is  acquainted,  and  his  only  recourse  against  injust- 
ice, or  what  he  may  consider  dishonest  or  unfair  treatment 
on  the  part  of  the  whites,  is  to  go  on  the  war-path  and  seek 
revenge  in  bloodshed  for  his  real  or  fancied  wrongs,  just  as 
Hain-in-the-Face  joined  the  hostile  forces  of  Sitting  Bull,  to 
avenge  his  treatment  at  the  hands  of  General  Ouster,  in 
being  arrested  and  held  a  prisoner  in  the  post  guard-house 
at  Fort  A.  Lincoln,  during  the  winter  of  1875,  not  many 
months  before  Ouster's  last  battle.  Revenge  for  wrongs  in- 
flicted upon  himself  or  his  race,  is  the  first  article  in  the 
Indian's  moral  creed,  hence  it  is  fair  to  presume  that  he  will 
carry  a  revengeful  spirit  in  his  bosom,  until  its  consuming 
fires  are  quenched  by  a  higher  civilizing  influence  than  any 
yet  applied  to  him,  and  until  he  is  thoroughly  subjugated 
and  made  to  obey  the  laws  and  regulations  of  our  common 
rulers. 


THE   HOSTILES.  133 

Since  the  last  administration  came  into  power  in  1877, 
there  has  been  a  decided  improvement  in  Indian  affairs,  and 
the  Indians  themselves  report  progress  among  their  respec- 
tive tribes  in  a  measure  beyond  their  anticipation. 

One  cause  of  this  marked  change  for  the  better  is  attribu- 
table to  the  non-interference  of  the  President  with  the  Sec- 
retary of  the  Interior.  Another  is  found  in  the  fact  that 
Secretary  Schurz,  while  faithful  to  all  the  several  divisions 
of  his  department,  gave  to  the  Indian  service  his  special 
attention.  His  eminent  services  in  the  West,  and  through- 
out the  Indian  country  are  highly  appreciated  by  the  best 
class  of  citizens,  and  also  by  those  highly  competent  judges 
of  human  nature,  the  Indians  themselves,  some  of  whom 
were  on  the  war-path  only  a  few  years  ago,  and  some  but  a 
few  months  ago.  It  is  to  be  hoped  the  present  administra- 
tion will  adopt  the  same  line  of  policy  and  continue  it  on 
the  same  plan  as  that  laid  down  by  the  one  just  closed.  It 
is  the  general  belief  in  the  circle  of  business  men  who  are 
more  or  less  interested  in  Indian  matters,  that  Secretary 
Schurz  has  proved  himself  a  most  admirable  statesman,  and 
is  entitled  to  great  credit  from  all  parties,  as  well  as  to  the 
hearty  thanks  of  the  nation  at  large  for  his  efficient  admin- 
istration of  the  most  difficult  department  of  the  government. 
In  1872  it  was  this  same  Carl  Schurz  who  had  the  "  audacity 
and  impudence,"  as  it  was  then  called,  to  break  ranks  from 
the  administrative  party  then  in  power,  and  take  the  stump 
throughout  the  country,  to  state  the  facts  in  regard  to  the 
frauds  and  mismanagements  that  then  generally  prevailed 
throughout  the  different  departments  of  the  government. 

He  was  bitterly  denounced  for  so  doing  by  certain  officials 
who  still  clung  to  the  Belknap  idea  of  "  Rule  or  Ruin,"  and 
was  hissed  at  as  a  backslider  from  the  Republican  party, 
and  a  demoralizer  of  good  government ;  but,  four  years 
later,  the  truth  of  his  accusations  stood  revealed,  and  a  Re- 
publican President  placed  him  in  charge  of  one  of  the  most 
important  departments  of  our  government,  "  The  Depart- 
ment of  the  Interior."  His  official  career  closed  on  the  4th 
of  March,  1881,  with  honor  to  himself  and  great  credit  to 
the  administration,  whose  schemes  of  reform  he  had  so 
largely  aided.  The  Indians  especially  regarded  him  with 


134  SUBJUGATING 

favor.  In  their  own  language  they  styled  him,  "  The-heap- 
good- white- Chief,"  and  were  often  heard  to  say,  that  they 
wished  he  could  remain  longer  in  charge  of  their  affairs.  It 
it  true  that  Secretary  Schurz  did  not  at  all  times  move  har- 
moniously with  the  military  officials,  but  the  author  believes 
he  is  correct  in  saying  that  the  general  management  of  the 
government  business  and  operations  by  both  the  Military 
and  Interior  Departments  on  the  frontier  has  been,  in  gen- 
eral, satisfactory  in  its  final  results.  The  small  army  assign- 
ed to  the  protection  of  the  frontier  is  mostly  composed  of 
veterans,  and  commanded  by  skilled  and  conscientious  offi- 
cers, as  the  country  is  well  aware.  Well-advised  border 
men  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  by  the  discreet  and 
thoughtful  management  of  the  latter,  settlers  and  immi- 
grants are  now  quite  safe  from  attacks  by  marauding  bands 
of  hostile  Indians. 

From  the  first  origin  of  the  government  the  Indian  prob- 
lem has  puzzled  the  wisest  heads  of  the  nation,  nor  has  a 
correct  solution  of  the  difficult  question  been  yet  arrived  at. 
It  is  doubtful  if  it  can  be  settled  in  the  present  generation, 
although  the  efforts  of  philanthropists  and  humanitarians 
throughout  the  country,  in  conjunction  with  the  powerful 
machinery  of  the  United  States  government,  are  put  forth 
constantly  to  that  end. 

The  author  has  not  presumed  to  propose  a  remedy  for  ex- 
isting ills,  but  if  he  has  in  these  pages  thrown  any  light  upon 
the  vexed  question,  if,  from  the  impressions  made  upon  his 
mind  during  long  residence  among  this  "  peculiar  people," 
and  thoughtful  observation  of  their  habits  and  character,  as 
recorded  in  this  unpretending  volume,  or  if  he  has  added 
anything  to  the  popular  knowledge  of  these  "  nomads  of  the 
plains,"  or  shed  any  light  upon  their  feelings  and  situation, 
by  which  to  indicate  a  more  enlightened  treatment  of  these 
unhappy  people  in  the  future,  then  is  his  mission  as  an 
author  accomplished. 

In  closing  this  work,  we  must  express  our  kind  thanks  to 
Professor  O.  S.  Goff,  at  Bismarck,  D.  T.,  for  his  promptness 
in  placing  in  our  hands  the  photo  of  "  Chief  Sitting  Bull " 
in  time  for  this  edition,  as  it  not  only  enables  the  writer  to 
keep  his  promise  made  elsewhere,  but  the  readers  get  full 


THE   HOSTILES.  135 

as  good  a  likeness,  and  the  features  and  general  expression 
are  even  better  than  we  expected  to  get,  on  account  of  the 
sullenness  of  the  old  chief  since  his  surrender.  But  we  are 
really  entitled  to  the  best  that  could  be  taken,  as  he  charged 
an  even  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  negative.  So  it  ap- 
pears that  the  chief  intends  to  make  his  face  pay  him  dol- 
lars, as  well  as  his  words  and  big  talk.  He  charges  two 
dollars  apiece  for  writing  his  autograph  for  men  and  boys, 
but  writes  it  free  of  charge  for  the  ladies.  Little  did  the 
old  chief  think  while  in  the  hands  of  Professor  Goff  at 
"  Standing  Rock  Agency,"  that  his  photo  would  be  in  the 
hands  of  an  engraver  in  New  York  City  within  the  space  of 
four  days. 

The  author  now  begs  leave  to  call  special  attention  to  the 
contents  of  his  next  book,  as  appears  on  the  following  pages, 
entitled,  "  The  "Western  Blue  Book ;  or,  Scenes  of  Savage 
Life,"  which  will  be  ready  about  the  first  of  October. 
"  The  Blue  Book  "  will  give  a  panoramic  and  dramatic  view 
of  our  military  operating  against  the  hostiles,  all  the  way 
from  the  wild  Apache  camps  in  Old  Mexico  to  the  fastnesses 
in  the  woody  mountains  in  the  North  ;  and  it  is  our  aim  to 
give  a  faithful  portrayal  of  actual  scenes  of  our  modern  In- 
dian warfare,  as  has  been  carried  on  against  the  various 
iribes  all  along  our  Western  frontier  ;  also  in  regard  to  the 
•treatment  and  management  of  the  leading  war-chiefs,  after 
they  have  either  been  captured  by  our  forces  or  themselves 
surrendered. 

The  author  has  had  fourteen  years  of  continuous  experi- 
ence among  the  military  and  untamed  savages  on  the  frontier, 
and  feels  quite  competent  to  do  even  justice  to  both  subjects 
and  readers,  and  very  confidently  claims  in  advance  of  pub- 
lication that  "  Fanatanza  "  and  "  Col.  La  Kaine  "  will  be  two 
of  the  best  productions  of  the  kind  that  have  ever  been  placed 
before  the  American  people.  The  author  most  respectfully 
asks  you  to  read  the  "  Blue  Book,"  and  give  your  opinion 
without  fear  or  favor.  Nicely  bound  in  blue  cloth,  16mo, 
$1.50,  and  will  be  for  sale  by  wholesale  booksellers  gene- 
Tally  ;  also  news-agents  and  canvassers  throughout  the 
country.  For  particulars  address  "  The  Author,"  P.  O.  Box, 
87,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y. 


136 


CONTENTS 


THE  WESTERN  BLUE  BOOK." 


SECTION  I. 
FANATANZA;  A  SKETCH  OP  SAVAGE  LIFE. 

CHAPTER  I. — A  Quiet  Home  in  Texas  Baidecl  by  a  Band, 
of  Apache  Warriors. 

CHAPTER  II. — Return  of  the  Warriors,  and  a  Pow-Wow 
over  the  Capture  of  Mrs.  Sparks. 

CHAPTER  III. — The  Wild  Apache  Chief  with  Mrs.  Sparks 
and  his  Bed  Wife. 

CHAPTER  IV. — Warriors  Return  from  a  Raid  into  Old  Mex- 
ico with  Fanatanza. — The  Murder  of 
Mrs.  Sparks. 

CHAPTER  V. — General  Van  Couvnor's  Headquarters  at 
Fort  Washita. 

CHAPTER  VI. — Three  Kiowa  Chiefs  Engaged  to  help  Ran- 
som "  Fanatanza." 

CHAPTER  VII. — The  Chiefs  Return  to  General  Van  Couvnor 
at  Fort  Washita. 

CHAPTER  VIII. — California  John  warns  Genera.  Van  Couv- 
nor of  the  Situation. 


137 

CHAPTER     IX. — General  Yan  Couvnor  takes  the  Field. 
CHAPTER       X. — Fanatanza  Surrendered  by  the  Wild  Apache 

Chief. 
CHAPTER     XL — Correspondent  of  the  Eastern  Press  Arrives 

at  Fort  Washita. 
CHAPTER    XII. — Kiowa  Chiefs  Demand  Money  in  Advance 

for  the  Ransom  of  Fanatanza. 
CHAPTER  XIII. — Walker's  Trading  Store  among  the  Wild 

Kiowas  and  Comanches,  in  the  Wichita 

Mountains. 
CHAPTER  XIV. — General  Van  Couvnor  Receives  Fanatanza. 

The  Wild  Apache  Chief  Highly  Amused 

at  the  "  Round  Dance." 


SECTION  n. 

COURT  SCENE  AT  AN  INDIAN  AGENCY. 

CHAPTER        I. — A  Quaker  Agent  sits  as  Chief  Justice. 
CHAPTER       II. — Appendix  to   the  Court  Scene  at  a  Kiowa 
Agency. 


SECTION  III. 

RIGHT  or  WAY  TO  THE  GOLD  FIELDS  ;  OR,  A  FEMALE  LOBBYIST 
IN  WASHINGTON. 

CHAPTER  I._Office  of  the  Midland  Pacific  Railroad- 
President  and  Directors'  Room. 

CHAPTER  II. — After  Dinner. — Arrival  of  the  Lobbyists 
and  the  leading  Chiefs  of  the  Indian 
Reservation. 

CHAPTER    III. — Hotel  de  Villa  in  Washington. 


138 

SECTION  IV. 
COL.  LA  RAINE  ;  OK,  THE  WARRIOR'S  REVENGE. 

CHAPTER  I. — General  Waldstien,  Commanding  the  North- 
west, Headquarters  in  St.  Paul. 

CHAPTER  II. — Scene  near  Pompey's  Pillar,  on  the  Yel- 
lowstone. 

CHAPTER  III. — An  Indian  Dance  and  Grand  Pow-Wow  at 
Standing  Rock  Agency,  Wild  Eagle  the 
Centre  Figure. 

CHAPTER  IV. — Col.  La  Raine  Sends  a  Troop  of  Cavalry 
to  Capture  Wild  Eagle. 

CHAPTER  V. — Capture  of  Wild  Eagle,  the  Murderer  of 
Col.  La  Raine. 

CHAPTER  VI. — Col.  La  Raine  Receives  Wild  Eagle  at 
Fort  Stonewall. 

CHAPTER  VII. — Friends  of  Wild  Eagle  Visit  Him  while  in 
the  Guard-house  ;  Medicine-Man  Inter- 
cedes. 

CHAPTER  VIII. — Grain  Thieves  Escape  ;  also  the  Revenge- 
ful Warrior. 

CHAPTER  IX. — Col.  La  Raine  Receives  the  Report  from 
the  Guard-house. 

CHAPTER  X. — Walker's  Trading  Establishment,  near  Fort 
Stonewall,  on  the  Missouri  River. 

CHAPTER  XI. — Officers'  Club-room  at  Fort  Stonewall ;  the 
Day  before  Col.  La  Raine  takes  the 
Field. 

CHAPTER  XH. — Col.  La  Raine's  Headquarters,  within 
Three  Hours'  March  of  Sitting  Bull's 
Village. 

CHAPTER  XIII. — Col.  La  Raine's  last  Sleep,  the  Night  be- 
fore his  last  Battle  with  Sitting  Bull. 

CHAPTER  XIV. — His  last  Battle  and  the  lost  Battle-field. 


139 
SECTION  V. 

GENERAL  WALDSTIEN;  OR,  THE  SURRENDER  OF  CROW  KING, 
CHIEF  WARRIOR  OF  SITTING  BULL'S  TRIBES. 

CHAPTER  I. — Headquarters  of  General  Waldstien,  at 
*  Fort  Buford. 

CHAPTER  II. — The  General  in  the  Field ;  Crow  King  Sur- 
renders. 

CHAPTER  III. — Trader's  Store  at  Fort  Buford. 

CHAPTER  IV. — Crow  King  makes  his  formal  Surrender,  and 
has  a  Peace  Dance. 


NOTICE    AGAINST    PIRATING.' 


The  Author  is  informed  that  certain  parties  are  about  to 
*'  pirate  and  dramatize  "  certain  sections  of  the  above  con- 
tents for  their  own  benefit,  and  he  hereby  announces  that 
he  will  prosecute  any  buccaneer  who  infringes  upon  his 
copyright,  to  the  full  extent  of  the  law,  as  all  his  produc- 
tions are  copyrighted  according  to  act  of  Congress. 


1873.  1881. 

JNO.  A.  STOYELL, 


o\irLsellor-a.t-Z-fa.-wr 


P 


BISMARCK,  D.  T. 


T.  J.  MITCHELL, 

Mm/dan,  D.  T. 


D.  O.  PRESTON, 

Bismarck,  D.  T. 


MANDAN     AND     BISMARCK,     D.  T. 

T.    J.    TTJLLY, 

MERCHANT  TAILOR, 

MILITARY  K^RDER^  A  SPECIALTY. 

A  Choice  selection  of  Foreign  and  Domestic  goods  con- 
stantly on  hand. 


DAN  EISENBERG, 


JOBBER   AND   BETAILEB  IK 


n* 

Orders  Filled  Promptly  and  Satisfaction  Guaranteed. 

45  Main  Street,  BISMARCK.  D.  T. 


Only  Half  Block  from  N.  P.  Depot, 


C.  W.  FREEDE,       ) 
Proprietor. ) 


BISMARCK,  D.T. 


DR.  WM.  A.  BENTLY, 


fill! 

Office— TRIBUNE   BLOCK, 

Residence-No,  34   NORTH   THIRD   STREET, 


WALTER  MANN,  St.  Paul,  Prest. 


G.  H.  FAIRCHILD,  Cashier. 


Indians! 


aff 


BISMARCK,    DAKOTA. 

DIRECTORS 

WALTER   MANN,  G.    H.    FAIRCHILD, 

ASA  FISHER,  DAN.   EISENBERG,        H.  R.   PORTER. 

{AMERICAN  EXCHANGE  NATIONAL  BANK,  NEW  YORK. 
FIRST  NATIONAL  BANK,  CHICAGO. 
MERCHANTS'  NATIONAL  BANK,   ST.  PAUL. 


INTEREST    ALLOWED    ON    TIME    DEPOSITS. 

OUST 


GEO.  H.  LOttSBEHEY, 


^  r. 


A   SPECIALTY. 

Manufacturer  of  all   kinds  of  Tin  and  Sheet 
Iron  \Vare ;   also, 


AND  ALL  KINDS  OF  FARM  MACHINERY, 


BISMARCK,  D.  T. 


1872.    DUNN  &  CO., 


WHOLESALE  AND   RETAIL 


Orders  from  abroad  receive  prompt  attention. 


BISM-A-HCX,    D- T. 


f&3Spap?f?ap5*P 

IN     ^ARjVt^     AND     -pHOICE     JoWN 

BISMARCK,  D.  T. 


MANDAN,  D.   T. 


.•LI 


FINE  TEAS  AND  COFFEES  A  SPECIALTY. 

Special    attention    paid   to    consignments    of 
Butter,  Eggs,   and  all   kinds  produce. 


RESPECTFULLY   REFERS  TO  I 

BOIS,  FAY  is  CONEEY,  Chicago,  HI.,  and  ANTHONY  KELLY,  Minneapolis,  Minn. 


D.  J.   BAILEY  &  CO., 


WHOLESALE  AND  RETAIL  DEALERS  IN 


GENERAL  HARDWARE 


MANUFACTURERS  OF 


Tinware  anl  House- Furnishing:  fitods; 

•  -.  •   •    .  •  • .  ••       p,<  •",••• 

Agents  for  the  John  Deere  Plow  Works, 
MAIN  STREET,  BISMARCK,  D.  T. 


CENTRAL    LOCATION. 

Rooms  Airy  and   well  Furnished.     'Busses  run 

from  this  House  to  all  Trains  and  Steamboats ; 

Also  Stages  leave  daily  for  Forts  Stevenson, 

Berthold,  Buford,  Lincoln,  Yates  &  Sully. 


STABLE  ROOM  LARGE  &  COMMODIOUS. 


BISMAKCK,  D.  T. 


O.    S. 


BTJ3L.X,, 
AXD   ALL  THE  HOSTILE  SIOUX  CHIEFS. 

Also,  the  Finest  Collection  of  Indian  Photos  in  America. 

BISMARCK,    D.    T. 


Correspondence  Solicited. 


O.    S. 

WHOLESALE   AND   RETAIL   DEALER   IN 

Hear?  and  Shelf  Hardware, 

w 
STOVES,  TINWARE   AND   TOOLS, 

ALWAYS  ON   HAND    A  FULL  SUPPLY   OF 

Guns,  Pistols  and   all   kinds  of  Hunting  Goods, 
No.  36  MAIN  ST.,  BISMARCK,  D.  T. 


BROOKLYN,  NEW  YORK. 


A  Large  Family  Hotel  situated  in  the  fash- 
ionable part  of  the  city,  convenient 
to  the  New  York  Ferries. 


like  f 

P       ! 


IBff  AM 

LITTLE  MOUNTAIN,  OHIO. 


20  Miles  East  of  Cleveland  on  the  L.  8.  &  M. 
8.  R'y,  via  Mentor. 

One  of  the  most  delightful  Summer  Besorta 
in  the  West. 


Open  throughout  the  year.         Open  from  June  to  October. 


HARRY  W.  AVERT,  Proprietor. 


OPPOSITE    THE    SHERIDAN    HOUSE. 


MONTANA    STORE, 


HATS,  CAPS,  BOOTS  AND  SHOES, 

Trunks   and   Valises, 
Main  Street,  BISMARCK,  D.  T. 


B.  L.  WINSTON. 


P.  O.  CHILSTROM. 


B.  L.  WINSTON  &  CO., 


Booksellers  and  Stationers 


GENERAL  NEWS  DEALERS, 


F.  O.  Box  292, 


MANDAN,  D.  T 


GLENDIVE, 

YELLOWSTONE  VALLEY, 

JUNCTION  OF  THE 

them  Pa! 


.  WITH   THE    STEAMBOAT   TRAFFIC   OF   THE 


YELLOWSTONE 

Division  terminus  of  the  Missouri  and  Yel- 

lowstone Divisions  of  the  Northern  Pacific 

R.R.,  and  location  of  the  Round  House, 

44  stalls  for  engines;  Machine  Shops, 

240  feet  by  100  feet;  Blacksmith 

Shops,  100  by  60  feet;  and 

Steamboat  warehouses  for 

river  traffic. 

Commercial  depot  town  for  the  lower  Yellowstone  Valley,  the 
finest  agricultural  and  grazing  land  of  Eastern  Montana  and 
Western  Dakota. 


Agencies  for  sale  of  lots,  where  plats  can  be  seen  and  informa- 
tion obtained  : 

N.  C.  LAWRENCE,  J.  J,  REA,  H,  C,  HOBSON, 

Glendlve,  M.  T.  Bismarck,  D.  T.  Fargo,  D.  T. 

H.  F.  DOUGLAS,  General   Agent,  Glendive,  M.  T. 


THE  TOWN  OF  STEELE  IS  SITUATED  ON  THE 

NORTHERN  PACIFIC  RAILROAD, 

Only    44    miles    West    of   Bismarck    and    Fort 
Abraham   Lincoln,   D.   T. 

If  is  the  County  Seat  of  Steele  County, 

and  is   located   in   the  center   of  one  of  the  best 
agricultural   sections   in   Northern   Dakota. 

Town  Lots  are  selling  from  forty  to  two 
hundred  dollars  each. 

This  section  of  the  country  lies  just  off  the 
Missouri  Slope,  and  is  noted  for  its  fertility. 

Mr.  Steele  has  about  two  thousand  acres 
under  cultivation,  and  in  the  year  188O  raised 
36  bushels  of  wheat  and  55  bushels  of  oats 
from  each  acre  cultivated.  This  is  a  good  town 
to  locate  in. 

For  particulars  in  regard  to  the  purchase  of 
lots,  address 

W.  S.  STEELE,  OR 
M.  H.  JEWELL, 

BISMARCK,  D.  T. 


More  than  250.000  of  them 

in  Use.— 

Bankers,    Lawyers,    Merchants 
and  Business  Men  generally, 
will  find  no  equal  to  it  in 
point  of  durability,  cheap- 
ness, or  couvenience  in 
Filing  and  Reference, 


Will  hold  3000  Letters 

Alphabetically  Arranged. 


Most  Popular  Letter  File 
erer    introduced. 


PricQ  $6.00  per  doz. 


The  Post-iRff  »n 
Burlington  Kilea  is 
17  cents  each,  which 
must  be  prepmid. 

Parties  ordering 
thi-m  to  be  sent  by 
mail  should  soul  the 
amount  due  for 
Postage,  in  addition 
!•>  the  price  for  the 
Tiles.  If  ordered  in 
quantities,  it  would 
l»e  cheaper  to  have 
them  sent  by  F.x- 
lire«»  or  Vr^fp-ht. 


SPECIALTIES : 


(STRICTLY  FIRST  CLASS  ACCOUNT  BOOKS  !  !  ! 
(FINE  PRINTING  AND  LITHOGRAPHING  !  !  ! 


Bankers  and  Merchants   who  appreciate  THE    VERY  BEST  QUALITY  OF  WORK 
and  are  willing  to  pay  a  fair  price  for  it,  are  invited  to  favor  us  with  their  orders. 


SPECIAL  NOTICE. 


It  is  now  a  matter  of  fad,  as  well  as  one  of  record,  that  the  country  now  known  as  the  "New  North- 
west," has,  during  the  last  eight  years,  developed  in  no  small  degree,  and  in  a  manner  almost  unprece- 
dented on  this  or  any  other  continent,  and  well  may  the  rank  and  file  of  the  heroic  and  scarred  little  army 
of  veterans  feel  proud  who  have  participated  in  opening  to  civilization  this  vast  belt  of  fertile  country, 
hitherto  unknown  save  to  the  red  warrior  and  bison  of  the  plains,  except  now  and  then  a  Missouri  River 
steamer,  ploughing  her  way  through  the  waters  of  the  Big  Muddy,  and  receiving  an  occasional  salute 
by  a  volley  of  Agency  cartridges  from  Sitting  Bull's  plumed  braves  (who  were  only  out  hunting),  by  tie 
way  of  a  gentle  hint  that  she  was  in  foreign  waters  without  a  passport,  and,  in  other  words,  "  We  will 
not  allow  you  in  our  waters  unless  you  bring  us  arms  and  ammunition.''  And  for  the  special  benefit  oj 
army  people,  as  well  as  the  outside  world,  the  writer  will  devote  one  section  in  the  "  BLUE  BOOK," 
ichotty  and  specially  to  giving  a  thorough  description  of  that  section  of  country  commencing  at  a  given 
point  about  midway  between  the  46th  and  47th  parallel  of  north  latitude,  on  the  James  River,  and  one 
hundred  miles  east  of  Bismarck,  on  the  Missouri  River,  and  show  the  vast  development  that  haj  been 
brought  about  by  the  ambitious  and  ever-go-a]ief'.d  western  pioneer,  who  always  has  ready  at  Ms  tongue's 
end,  "  Westward  ho,  the  star  of  empire  takes  its  way."  We  will  commence  at  Jamestown  and  move 
toward  Fort  Totten,  thence  north-westerly  to  Fort  Buford,  thence,  in  a  westerly  course,  to  the  headwaters 
of  the  Yellowstone,  or  National  Park,  and  return  at  the  point  of  beginning  and  proceed  west  in  a  south- 
erly direction,  via  Standing  Rock;  thence  move  south-westerly,  encircling  the  Black  Hills  country,  also 
(he  valley  of  the  Little  Missouri  River,  and  thence  up  the  south  side  of  the  Yellowstone  to  Forts  Keogh 
and  Custer;  and  thence  to  the  Geysers  in  the  Nationcd  Park,  all  of  which  will  embrace  a  belt  varying  in 
widthfrom  one  hundred  to  four  hundred  miles,  and  nearly  a  thousand  miles  in  length.  We  will  give 
the  population  and  growth  of  each  town,  when  and  by  whom  it  was  first  inhabited,  its  natural  surround- 
ings, general  advantages,  transportation  facilities,  and  other  points  of  interest.  We  will  also  produce 
a  copy  of  the  revised  United  States  laics  as  they  now  stand  concerning  pre-emption,  Homesteads,  and 
the  late  Tree-culture  act,  all  of  which  the  immigrant  and  bonafide  settlers  should  be  thoroughly  convers- 
ant with;  so  if  any  of  the  readers  of  the  "BLUE  BOOK"  should  be  acting  upon  the  advice  of  the  vener- 
able stalwart  adviser  of  all  advisers,  "Horace  Greeley,"  they  will  know  how  to  enter  Government  landin 
a  new  country  and  commence  active  operations  at  once,  as  far  as  regards  making  the  proper  entries 
is  concerned,  and  improving  and  living  upon  the  land.  It  is  the  intention  of  the  writer  to  make  the 
"  WESTEEN  BLUE  BOOK  "  the  liveliest  western  book  that  has  ever  been  published,  and  he  feels  confident 
that  every  family  in  America  will  read  it  with  great  interest;  and  he  improves  this  opportunity  to  slate 
that  its  readers  may  rely  upon  a  faithful  portrayal  of  western  frontier  life  among  the  military  and  hos- 
tile savages,  as  well  as  other  matters  of  interest,  all  of  which  is  based  upon  an  actual  experience  of 
fourteen  years . 

Everybody  should  read  the  "  WESTERN  BLUE  BOOK,"  and  get  a  correct  representation  of  what  has 
been  done  west  of  the  Mississippi  and  Missouri  Rivers  during  the  last  several  years  in  the  way  of  "sub- 
jugating the  hostiles,"  and  opening  a  new  country. 

Nicely  bound  in  cloth,  containing  about  300  pages.     Price,  $1.50. 


f  7 


Every  citizen  in  America  should  read 
"THE    WESTERN    BLUE    BOOK.' 


